Chinese Researchers Develop Method to Convert Methanol into White Sugar

Kokcha News Agency: Researchers from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a biotransformation system that produces sucrose (white sugar) without the need for sugarcane or sugar beet cultivation. This innovative method can also be adapted to synthesize other complex carbohydrates like fructose and starch.

The team highlighted that methanol, the key ingredient in this process, can be derived from industrial waste or through the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide, making the method environmentally friendly and capable of reducing carbon emissions.

High Efficiency and Low Energy Consumption
In laboratory tests, the system achieved an impressive 86% efficiency in converting low-carbon molecules into sucrose. The researchers also noted that the new method consumes less energy compared to traditional sugar production techniques.

Potential for Food and Pharmaceutical Industries
Given that China consumes 15 million tons of sugar annually, with approximately 5 million tons imported, this technology has significant potential to save water and agricultural land. The researchers believe that their platform could revolutionize not only food production but also the pharmaceutical industry by enabling the independent synthesis of various polysaccharides without relying on plants.

However, the team emphasized that further research is needed to optimize enzymes and enhance the system’s durability before it can be scaled up for industrial use.