Engineered Chlorella Microbes for Dielectric Fluid Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bio-based dielectric fluids face challenges due to oxidative instability, high production costs, and the diversion of food sources for non-food applications, while mineral-oil based dielectric fluids dominate the market.
Innovation Solution
Genetically-engineered Chlorella or Prototheca microbes are developed to ablate or downregulate endogenous fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase genes, producing microbial oils with improved properties for dielectric fluids, including reduced oxidative instability and lower production costs by incorporating exogenous genes like sucrose invertase or desaturase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bio-based oils are used as dielectric fluids, then fire point and transformer life are increased, but oxidative instability occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the oil by genetically modifying microorganisms to produce oils with specific fatty acid profiles (high oleic acid content, reduced polyunsaturated fatty acids), thereby improving oxidative stability while maintaining the reliability benefits of bio-based oils
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite oil composition through genetic engineering that combines multiple fatty acid types in optimized proportions, resulting in an oil that exhibits both the high reliability of bio-based oils and improved oxidative stability through the synergistic effect of different fatty acid components
2Reliability
If bio-based oils are produced from soybean, then dielectric fluid performance is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables microorganisms to self-produce the desired oil composition through genetic engineering, eliminating the need for expensive purification and processing steps required for soybean oil, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining dielectric fluid performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses microorganisms as temporary, easily cultivable production systems that can be grown rapidly and processed simply, replacing the need for expensive and complex soybean cultivation, harvesting, and purification infrastructure
3Quantity of substance
If soybean oil is diverted to non-food applications, then dielectric fluid availability is improved, but food source availability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the oil production function from food crops (soybean) and transfers it to microorganisms, separating the dielectric fluid production pathway from the food supply chain, thereby enabling dielectric fluid availability without impacting food source availability
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 engineered microbes produce microbial oils with enhanced stability and reduced production costs, enabling the creation of biodegradable lubricants and dielectric fluids that can replace petroleum-based products, addressing market dominance and environmental concerns.
Implementation Method 1
Genetically-engineered Chlorella or Prototheca microbes are developed to ablate or downregulate endogenous fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase genes
Implementation Method 2
the endogenous fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase is ablated by homologous recombination
Implementation Method 3
the microbe is engineered to express an inhibitory RNA that targets an endogenous fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase
Implementation Method 4
the exogenous gene encodes a sucrose invertase, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase or a desaturase
Implementation Method 5
the microbe further comprises one or more exogenous genes that are expressed by the cell
Implementation Method 6
PCT Pub. Nos. 2008/151149 describe methods and materials for cultivating microalgae for the production of oil
Implementation Method 7
a) cultivating a microbe as defined above; and, b) separating the oil from the microbe
Implementation Method 8
b) separating the oil from the microbe
Implementation Method 9
subjecting the oil to refining, bleaching, deodorizing or degumming to produce RBD microbial oil
Implementation Method 10
subjecting the oil to refining, bleaching, deodorizing or degumming to produce RBD microbial oil
Implementation Method 11
adding an antioxidant, metal ion deactivator, corrosion inhibitor, demulsifier, anti-wear additive, pour point depressant or anti-hydrolysis compound to the microbial oil
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and compositions for the production of dielectric fluids from lipids produced by microorganisms are provided, including oil-bearing microorganisms and methods of low cost cultivation of such microorganisms. Microalgal cells containing exogenous genes encoding, for example, a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a lipid pathway modification enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a desaturase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing dielectric fluids.