Engineered Microbes for Methanol Conversion to Liquid Fuels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for converting natural gas into liquid fuels are inefficient and costly, particularly due to high capital costs and low conversion efficiencies in chemical routes like the Fischer-Tropsch process, while biological means for converting methane to methanol are underdeveloped.

Innovation Solution

Engineering non-naturally occurring methylotrophic microbes that express heterologous genes such as methanol dehydrogenase and ribulose monophosphate pathway enzymes, allowing them to grow on methanol as a carbon source and convert it into desirable liquid fuels and chemicals like n-butanol.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If chemical conversion routes like Fischer-Tropsch process are used to convert natural gas into liquid fuels, then liquid fuels can be produced, but capital costs are high and conversion efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversion efficiencyVSAvoidcapital costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex chemical conversion systems (Fischer-Tropsch process) with a biological system using engineered microorganisms. The microbe naturally performs the conversion function through metabolic pathways, eliminating the need for complex chemical reactors and catalysts, thereby reducing capital costs while improving conversion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The engineered microbe is designed to autonomously convert methanol to liquid fuels through its own metabolic processes. The organism self-regulates the conversion efficiency and performs the function without external intervention, simplifying the overall system and reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Use of energy by moving object

If biological conversion methods are used to convert methane to methanol, then high specificity and process energy efficiency can be achieved, but the technology is underdeveloped and lacks efficient methylotrophic microbes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess energy efficiencyVSAvoidavailability of efficient methylotrophic microbes

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the complex function of converting methanol to liquid fuels into separate modular metabolic pathways within the microbe. By engineering specific pathways (such as the RuMP pathway and pentose phosphate pathway), the system achieves high energy efficiency at each step while ensuring reliable overall conversion through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes key parameters of the microbial system including enzyme expression levels, pathway flux distribution, and metabolic regulation mechanisms. By adjusting these parameters, the engineered microbe achieves both high energy efficiency in methanol conversion and reliable performance under various operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables efficient production of liquid fuels and chemicals from methanol, reducing capital costs and improving energy efficiency, while minimizing CO2 release, by leveraging microbes that can utilize methanol and fix CO2 to produce biofuels.

Implementation Method 1

The non-naturally occurring microbe expresses heterologous methanol dehydrogenase (MDH)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

The non-naturally occurring microbe expresses heterologous ribulose monophosophate (RuMP) pathway enzymes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Implementation Method 3

Bioconversion is a promising alternative because of its high specificity and high process energy efficiency all under very mild conditions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological conversion: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS10717964B2Synthetic methylotrophy to liquid fuels and chemicals

Publication Date: 2020.07.21 UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

AI summary

A non-naturally occurring microbe capable of growing in a medium comprising methanol is provided. The methanol contributes to a significant percentage (e.g., at least 40%) of the carbon source for the non-naturally occurring microbe, which expresses heterologous methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) and heterologous ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) pathway enzymes. Methods for producing liquid fuels and chemicals by the non-naturally occurring microbe and methods for preparing the non-naturally occurring microbe are also provided.