Use of oxyhydrogen microorganisms for non-photosynthetic carbon capture and conversion of inorganic and/or c1 carbon sources into useful organic compounds

Abstract

Compositions and methods for a hybrid biological and chemical process that captures and converts carbon dioxide and / or other forms of inorganic carbon and / or CI carbon sources including but not limited to carbon monoxide, methane, methanol, formate, or formic acid, and / or mixtures containing CI chemicals including but not limited to various syngas compositions, into organic chemicals including bio-fuels or other valuable biomass, chemical, industrial, or pharmaceutical products are provided. The present invention, in certain embodiments, fixes inorganic carbon or CI carbon sources into longer carbon chain organic chemicals by utilizing microorganisms capable of performing the oxyhydrogen reaction and the autotrophic fixation of CO2 in one or more steps of the process.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 328,184, filed Apr. 27, 2010 and entitled “USE OF OXYHYDROGEN MICROORGANISMS FOR NON-PHOTOSYNTHETIC CARBON CAPTURE AND CONVERSION OF INORGANIC CARBON SOURCES INTO USEFUL ORGANIC COMPOUNDS.” This application is also a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application No. PCT / US2010 / 001402, filed May 12, 2010, and entitled “BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESS UTILIZING CHEMOAUTOTROPHIC MICROORGANISMS FOR THE CHEMOSYNTHETIC FIXATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND / OR OTHER INORGANIC CARBON SOURCES INTO ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, AND THE GENERATION OF ADDITIONAL USEFUL PRODUCTS,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 613,550, filed Nov. 6, 2009, and entitled “BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESS UTILIZING CHEMOAUTOTROPHIC MICROORGANISMS FOR THE CHEMOSYNTHETIC FIXATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND / OR OTHER INORGANIC CARBON SOURCES INTO ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a new process that uses microorganisms to capture and convert inorganic carbon to longer chain organic compounds, such as fuel. This process can use oxyhydrogen microorganisms which are more tolerant to oxygen and produce less harmful byproducts. The process can also lead to the production of additional revenue from disposing of waste carbon sources and capturing CO2. The patent also describes modifying the microorganisms to increase the yield and quality of organic compounds for use as biofuels. Additionally, the patent addresses the issue of safety in gas fermentations that use mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen.

Problems solved by technology

However, many of these approaches have suffered shortcomings that have limited the effectiveness, economic feasibility, practicality and commercial adoption of the described processes.

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