iGEM PuiChing-Macau 2024

Improving quality and quantity of essential oil extraction using engineered E. coli

Essential oils have been used widely in daily life products (such as shampoo and soap). Currently, 93% of essential oils are extracted with steam distillation. While this method does not involve toxic chemicals, the yield of essential oil extraction is very low, usually less than 2% of the plant materials. Previous studies identified enzymes which could break down plant cell walls, increasing yield and preserving the quality of the oils. However, these enzymes are not stable during the boiling-hot steam distillation.

We here used various engineered E. coli to produce thermostable enzymes (pectinase and cellulase) which allowed substantial enzyme activities during steam distillation, and significantly improved the yield. In addition, we produced lipases to esterify extracted oils, which enhanced their anti-bacterial properties. We also interacted with multiple industrial and academic partners, filed a patent, and designed hardware and models to ensure our project could be launched to the market shortly.