Clostridium autoethanogenum for CO Fermentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microbial fermentation processes for ethanol production from carbon monoxide (CO) suffer from inefficiencies, including co-production of acetate, which reduces ethanol yield and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, and are limited by the ability of microorganisms to utilize CO as a sole carbon source.
Innovation Solution
A novel biologically pure isolate of the bacterium Clostridium autoethanogenum, capable of anaerobic fermentation of CO, exhibits enhanced ethanol production efficiency with improved CO uptake, increased specific productivity, and a higher ethanol to acetate ratio, allowing for more efficient carbon capture and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional yeast-based fermentation processes are used to produce ethanol from carbohydrate feedstocks, then ethanol production is achieved, but the cost is influenced by the value of feedstocks as human food or animal feed and cultivation is not economically sustainable in all geographies
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the carbon source parameter from carbohydrate feedstocks to CO gas, fundamentally altering the input material to eliminate dependency on food crops and their associated costs
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and utilizes CO, a waste by-product from industrial processes, as the carbon source for ethanol production, thereby eliminating the need for expensive carbohydrate feedstocks
2Productivity
If microorganisms are used to convert CO into fuels and chemicals, then ethanol production from gas is achieved, but acetate and/or acetic acid are co-produced as by-products, reducing ethanol efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the metabolic pathway of the microorganism to locally optimize carbon flux toward ethanol production while minimizing acetate production through genetic engineering of specific enzymes in the acetyl-CoA pathway
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the product distribution parameter by engineering the microorganism to produce predominantly ethanol rather than co-producing acetate, thereby improving carbon efficiency
3Adaptability or versatility
If acetate/acetic acid by-product is produced during fermentation, then carbon is converted into alternative products, but waste disposal problems arise and potential GHG emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potentially harmful acetate by-product into a beneficial outcome by either eliminating its formation through engineered metabolic pathways or utilizing it as an additional fuel product, thereby preventing GHG emissions
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
The novel bacterium achieves higher ethanol production rates and ratios, reducing waste and emissions, and can tolerate higher alcohol concentrations, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and sustainability of ethanol production from CO-containing substrates.
Implementation Method 1
The bacterium is capable of producing products including ethanol and optionally acetate, by anaerobic fermentation of a substrate containing CO
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a novel bacterium with improved properties, including improved ethanol production, ethanol productivity, CO uptake, specific growth rate, ethanol to acetate ratio, and alcohol tolerance. The bacterium may be derived from Clostridium autoethanogenum and/or may comprise at least one DNA or amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16. In one embodiment, the bacterium is Clostridium autoethanogenum deposited under DSMZ accession number DSM23693 or a bacterium derived therefrom.