Marine Metabolites for the Sustainable and Renewable Production of Key Platform Chemicals

Petrochemicals currently represent the predominant global source of energy and consumer products, including the starting materials used in the platform chemical, plastic polymer, and pharmaceutical industries. However, in recent years, the world’s approaches have shifted towards green chemistry and bio-based chemical production in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate climate change. Over the past few decades, researchers have discovered that marine metabolites, primarily sourced from invertebrates, can be utilized to create sustainable and renewable chemicals. This review highlights the significance of advancing marine microorganism-based biotechnology and biochemistry in developing effective conversion systems to enhance the biological production of key platform chemicals, including those utilized as biomaterials and for energy. A background in marine metabolite biochemistry lays the groundwork for potential strategies to mitigate dependence on petroleum for consumer products. This is followed by a discussion of petroleum product replacement technologies, green chemistry alternatives, and CO2 mitigation efforts for the production of sustainable and renewable key platform chemicals.