L-glufosinate research program authenticated, as developed jointly by East China University of Technology and Yonon Bioscience

Research results express

A few days ago, China Petroleum and Chemical Federation organized an expert evaluation of the research results pertaining to the “chiral glufosinate (L-glufosinate) green biological herbicide manufacturing technology and application research program.” The research program was conducted jointly by research team from East China University of Science and Technology and Yonon Bioscience. The evaluation committee consists of 8 CAE academicians and 7 professors from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, China Sinopec Group, Nanjing University of Technology, East China Normal University, Guizhou University,Fudan University, Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute,  Shanghai Huayi Group Company, Central China Normal University, China Sinochem, Zhejiang University, Tsinghua University, Tianjin University and Jiangnan University. 

On behalf of the research team, Professor Wei from East China University of Science and Technology delivered the work report, technical report and application report on the research achievements. The participating experts reached consensus that the research program has led to development of a new process based on multi-enzyme biocatalytic cascades for production of L-glufosinate, which is a successful pattern of biomanufacturing of pesticides. The research program has enabled newbuild of the world’s first biotechnical production line for an annual output of 5,000 tons of L-glufosinate, having achieved an industrialized production of L-glufosinate based on green biological manufacturing process, the first time in the world. This scale-up biological method of manufacturing L-glufosinate is the first of its kind in the world, which greatly promotes industry upgrading, economic and social development. 

                                      From left to right: YONON Sales director, President, Chief engineer, Deputy general manager

Bio processes and industrialization

According to statistics, the annual consumption of glufosinate worldwide is nearly 50,000 tons, having become one of the largest non-selective herbicide varieties. China is world’s major producer and exporter of glufosinate, with capacity accounting for nearly 65% of the total of the world. As a chiral pesticide, the chemically synthesized glufosinate is composed of 50% active substance and 50% inactive D-isomer, meaning that tens of thousands of tons of chiral waste and pollution from D-isomer are globally poured to the environment each year. With the “zero growth in use of pesticides and fertilizers” initiative advocated by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, green prevention and control, reduction of use amount and improvement of efficiency have become an irreversible direction which guides the development of pesticide industry; development of high-efficient, low-toxic and green pesticides has become a new trend in pesticide development. For a long time, synthesis of chiral pesticides has been a hot area of research in chemical pesticide industry, where methods of “chiral intermediates, asymmetric catalysis and chiral resolution” are regarded as classic methods of chiral chemosynthesis. When there is no breakthrough being made in chemosynthesis of L-glufosinate, biocatalysis shows its potentials to replace traditional chemical processes, by virtue of its strict stereoselectivity, mild reaction condition and high yield achievement. 

Yonon Bioscience, in cooperation with experts in biocatalysis and biosynthesis and Professor Wei of East China University of Science and Technology, conducted the “chiral glufosinate (L-glufosinate) green biological herbicide manufacturing technology and application research program,” using the 20-plus years of technical superiorities of Wei’s research team in enzyme engineering and biocatalysis and Yonon Bioscience’s experience in production and applications of glufosinate, focusing on key techniques of bio manufacturing of L-glufosinate. The research program has created an innovative high-activity, high- enantioselective enzyme customization and multi-enzyme self-assembly biocatalysis technology, resulting in creation of a high substrate concentration and pure water reaction system. The research program has enabled conversion of the glufosinate raceme (D-isomer) to L-glufosinate by nearly 100% with an obvious cost advantage, via the biocatalysis technique, the first time in the world. The technical level and product quality pertaining to the research program have reached internationally advanced level, having established its independent intellectual property rights.

The research results were industrialized in the Shangyu Factory of Yonon Bioscience. in Zhejiang Province, where the first new biocatalytic facility for production of glufosinate was set up with grant of the first technical production permit and formulation production permit, covering an annual output of 5,000 ton. The first L-glufosinate product Jinbaisu (L-glufosinate 10% SL) was already released to Chinese market, which was also successfully launched to the international market. For this reason, Jinbaisu was awarded a lot of honors such as the “Best selling Chinese crop protection product in 2020” and the “Chinese agrochemical product of creativity and originality.”

The world’s first 5,000-ton green biocatalytic L-glufosinate TC plant 

The first 100,000-ton green biocatalytic L-glufosinate AS smart plant 

Field promotion and applications

1)Market promotion activities

over the last three years, a project promotion team and domestic dealers have organized various product launches, sample distribution for the purpose of experiencing and field demonstrations; have conducted application-oriented training activities in favor of agricultural technicians and growers on the use of L-glufosinate, which makes weed control “more efficient, less toxic and more environment friendly,” as a positive response to the country’s initiative of “reduction of use and increase of efficiency of pesticides” and the policy of “green prevention and control.”

Snapshots of the launches of biocatalytic L-glufosinate 10% SL

Snapshots of L-glufosinate promotions with the theme of “reduction of use and increase of efficiency”

2)Field performance

A large number of field promotions and applications show that, after spray of L-glufosinate produced by biological method, agents absorbed by plants are all active substances, which are of more satisfactory fast-acting, complete uptaking and better rain fastness; L-glufosinate kills weeds by “contact toxicity via accumulated ammonium,” with the features of “invalidation in soil,” “no hurting of soil and roots” and is safe for next stubble crops; spray at “halved amount of active ingredient” can meet the strict requirement of pesticide residue limits for application to the high-end tea gardens, vegetable and fruit fields. Ammonium phosphate is a naturally occurring amino acid herbicide, with the features of “efficiency, low toxicity and environment friendliness.” Yonon Bioscience’s creative biocatalytic L-glufosinate 10% SL series have been accredited to China’s Green Food Production System, having been endorsed for broad application to “sites of citrus, grape, banana, cauliflower, cowpeas and uncultivated land.” Going forward, more crop applications are expected to be filed and registered with ICAMA of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Since 2019, the promotion team has promoted and improved constantly the herbicidal solutions for application to various sites such as citrus, tea, grape, dragon fruit, banana, navel orange, pear orchard, pomegranate, blueberry, vegetable, shrimp and rice fields, no-tillage, stubble cleaning and uncultivated land, which are widely praised by growers. Over the three years, the applications have covered an accumulated area of 1.53 million mu (1 mu = 1/15 hectare), which equals to a direct reduction of 4,500 tons of D-isomer to the environment. This is a great contribution to the country’s initiative of “reduction of use and increase of efficiency of pesticides” and the implementation of the policy of “green prevention and control.”

  Efficacy demonstration of Jinbaisu 300 ml/mu in citrus orchard, Meishan City, Sichuan (Left showing training on resistant weed control, lectured by Zhou Xiaogang, researcher of Institute of Plant Protection of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

Efficacy demonstration of Jinbaisu 300 ml/mu in pomegranate garden, Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan

Efficacy demonstration of Jinbaisu 300 ml/mu in citrus garden, Guangxi (Upper left showing training on citrus application, lectured by Xu Liming, researcher of Guangxi Citrus Association) 

 Efficacy demonstration of Jinbaisu 300 ml/mu in vegetable field, Lianjian City, Guangdong (Left showing training on vegetable application, lectured by Yang Chengxue, Director of Lianjiang Agrotechnical Extension and Service Center)

  Efficacy demonstration of Jinbaisu 300 ml/mu in fire dragon orchard on April 27, May 6, May 13, Fuzhou City, Fujian

  Efficacy demonstration of Jinbaisu 300 ml/mu in corn field in Anhui and Henan 

At the evaluation meeting, the “chiral glufosinate (L-glufosinate) green biological herbicide manufacturing technology and application research program” was highly regarded by the expert team as a “globally first creation” and “internationally advanced process.” This is not only a full recognition of the innovative and courageous spirit of the research team, but is more a praise and honor of the successful industry-university-research collaboration model, which contributes to the increased product competitiveness.

Source: Yonon Bioscience and East China University of Technology