Acetogenic Bacteria for Fermentation Broth Recycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for continuous fermentation of gases containing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen are hindered by the low ethanol tolerance of microorganisms, leading to increased costs for wastewater treatment and high water usage.
Innovation Solution
The use of acetogenic carboxydotrophic bacteria with an upstream region sequence for a hydrogenase gene cluster, which comprises at least about 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, allows for efficient conversion of CO, CO2, and H2 to oxygenated products, enhancing fermentation broth recycle and reducing wastewater treatment burdens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous fermentation is used to produce ethanol from CO, CO2, and H2, then productivity is improved, but wastewater treatment costs and water usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers and recycles the fermentation broth (bottoms) back to the fermentor instead of discarding it to wastewater treatment. By modifying the microorganism to tolerate high levels of recycled broth, the system recovers valuable water and nutrients, significantly reducing water loss and wastewater treatment requirements while maintaining continuous fermentation productivity
2Loss of substance
If fermentation broth is recycled back to the fermentor, then water usage is reduced, but microorganism growth is inhibited due to low broth tolerance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physiological parameters of the microorganism through genetic modification, specifically enhancing its tolerance to fermentation broth components. This allows the microorganism to reliably grow and function even when exposed to high percentages of recycled broth, enabling extensive broth recycling without compromising growth stability
3Loss of substance
If high percentages of fermentation broth are recycled, then wastewater treatment costs are reduced, but microorganism productivity decreases due to broth tolerance limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the microorganism's physiological parameters to tolerate high concentrations of recycled broth components. This genetic enhancement allows the system to recycle high percentages of fermentation broth while maintaining high oxygenated product formation rates, eliminating the trade-off between water conservation and productivity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases the efficiency of fermentation broth recycle, allowing for higher percentages of broth recycle without negatively impacting microbial growth or productivity, thereby reducing wastewater treatment costs and water usage.
Implementation Method 1
use microorganisms to convert gases containing carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and/or hydrogen (H2), such as industrial waste gas or syngas, into a variety of products, such as fuels and chemicals using fermentation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods for efficient fermentation broth recycle, methods for improving bottoms recycle, and methods for converting CO, CO2, and optionally H2 to ethanol and other oxygenated products, the methods comprising providing to a bioreactor a gaseous substrate comprising CO, CO2, and optionally H2, at least one acetogenic carboxydotrophic bacterium, and a liquid nutrient medium, and providing conditions within the bioreactor for the at least one acetogenic carboxydotrophic bacterium to convert CO, CO2, and optionally H2 to at least one oxygenated product. Also disclosed are methods for preparing animal feed and for preparing fertilizer.