E.coli microbes turn biodiesel waste into nylon

DAEJEON — Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST)  have re‑engineered common gut bacteria to turn biodiesel waste into core building blocks for nylon, offering a possible alternative to fossil‑based raw materials.

The team, led by Professor Sang Yup Lee, has built a microbial system that converts glycerol, a cheap byproduct of biodiesel, into three key chemicals used to make nylon 6 and nylon 6,6.