Bio-based Production of Succinonitrile

Introduction

Succinonitrile (SN) is a versatile organic compound characterized by two nitrile groups attached to a four-carbon backbone. It serves as a critical intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis, polymer manufacturing, and as a solid electrolyte additive in next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its excellent electrochemical stability.

Conventionally, succinonitrile is synthesized from petroleum-based feedstocks using acrylonitrile and hydrogen cyanide under harsh chemical conditions, which are both toxic and non-renewable. As sustainability and safety become industry priorities, researchers are developing bio-based routes for succinonitrile using fermentation-derived succinic acid or 1,4-butanediol, followed by biocatalytic or green chemical conversion to nitriles. This approach enables integration with biorefineries and supports circular, safer production systems

What Products Are Produced?

• Succinonitrile (C₄H₄N₂) – Dinitrile compound
• Applications:
• Solid-state electrolyte additive in lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries
• Intermediate in pharmaceuticals and dye production
• Precursor to polyamides and polyurethanes
• Used in phase change materials and high-performance solvents

Pathways and Production Methods

1. From Succinic Acid (Bio-based Platform)

• Glucose → Succinic acid via fermentation (Actinobacillus succinogenes, E. coli)
• Succinic acid → Succinonitrile via double amide formation → dehydration to dinitrile

2. From 1,4-Butanediol (BDO)

• Glucose → BDO via engineered E. coli
• BDO → Succinonitrile via ammoxidation (green oxidation with NH₃ and catalyst)

3. Direct Biocatalytic Nitrile Synthesis

• Use of nitrile synthases or engineered oxidative enzymes to convert succinates or diols to nitriles

Catalysts and Key Tools Used

Microbial Hosts:

• Corynebacterium glutamicum, Actinobacillus succinogenes – Succinic acid production
• Engineered E. coli – 1,4-BDO and succinate routes
• Pseudomonas putida – Tolerant to nitrile products

Key Enzymes & Catalysts:

• Nitrile synthase, nitrilase, amidase
• Dehydration catalysts (e.g., phosphorus pentoxide, green solid acids)
• Ammoxidation catalysts – Cu/Fe, Mo-based compounds for converting diols to nitriles

Tools:

• CRISPR/Cas metabolic rewiring for host optimization
• Green solvent media for product extraction
• Coupled biocatalysis + catalysis for hybrid routes

Case Study: DOE-LBNL’s Succinonitrile from Bio-Succinate Project

Highlights

• Developed a two-step hybrid route from bio-succinic acid to succinonitrile
• Focused on battery-grade SN with >99.5% purity
• Demonstrated use in solid-state Li-ion electrolytes with enhanced ionic conductivity

Timeline

• 2017 – Proof of concept using succinate + NH₃ routes
• 2019 – Lab-scale synthesis with 80% conversion
• 2022 – Application testing in battery systems
• 2023 – Tech shared with material innovators for scale-up

Global and Indian Startups Working in This Area

Global

• LanzaTech (USA) – Exploring bio-BDO-to-nitrile platforms
• BASF – Working on bio-derived succinate to polyamide intermediates including SN
• Electrolyte companies (e.g., Solvionic, NEI Corp) – Testing bio-SN in batteries
• Genomatica – BDO platform adaptable for nitrile synthesis

India

• Praj Industries – Succinic acid production from 2G biomass
• IIT Delhi & CSIR-IICT – Research on bio-based nitrile synthesis
• National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) – Developing green dehydration processes
• Startups under BIRAC-DBT – Investigating battery-grade organics from bioprocessing

Market and Demand

The global succinonitrile market is small but growing, valued at USD 90 million in 2023, and projected to reach USD 145 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of ~7.2%, especially fueled by energy storage materials.

Major Use Segments:

• Battery electrolytes – solid-state Li-ion and Na-ion batteries
• Pharmaceutical intermediates
• Phase change materials for thermal management
• Nylon precursors and high-performance polymers

Key Growth Drivers

• Growth in solid-state battery R&D and demand for new electrolytes
• Push for bio-based solvents and intermediates
• Potential to replace toxic petro-nitriles in fine chemical production
• Alignment with green electronics and EV industries
• Valorization of bio-succinate platforms already in use

Challenges to Address

• Toxicity and handling of nitrile intermediates during fermentation
• Lack of biocompatible nitrile-forming enzymes
• Need for selective and mild dehydration or ammoxidation methods
• In India: Bridging academic bio-acid platforms with industrial chemical transformation

Progress Indicators

• 2010–2015 – Succinic acid fermentation scaled globally
• 2017 – First publications on biobased SN routes
• 2020 – Bench-scale yield >75% from bio-succinate
• 2023–2024 – Enzyme screening for nitrile synthesis from diacids in India begins

Bio-succinate to succinonitrile (hybrid route): TRL 5–6. Bio-BDO to SN via ammoxidation: TRL 4–5. In India: TRL 3–4, with efforts in process integration and catalyst development

Conclusion

Bio-based production of succinonitrile presents a valuable opportunity to decarbonize the supply chain of high-performance chemicals and battery materials. Leveraging bio-succinic acid or BDO fermentation with green conversion chemistry, this approach aligns with the growing demand for sustainable solvents, smart materials, and safer nitrile compounds.

India’s advancement in organic acid bioprocessing, coupled with its expanding EV and specialty chemicals sectors, offers fertile ground to develop bio-SN as a strategic chemical, supporting both energy and industrial transitions.

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