Engineered Microorganisms for Butadiene Biosynthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current butadiene production relies on fossil-based sources and involves energy-intensive dehydration steps, resulting in significant environmental impact and costs; there is a need for a sustainable, renewable production method.
Innovation Solution
Development of non-naturally occurring microbial organisms with engineered butadiene biosynthetic pathways that produce butadiene through fermentation, eliminating the need for dehydration steps and utilizing renewable feedstocks like sugars and syngas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional steam cracking process is used to produce butadiene from petroleum feedstocks, then butadiene production is achieved, but high energy consumption and environmental harm occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional thermal steam cracking process with a biological fermentation system. Microorganisms are engineered to metabolically convert renewable feedstocks (sugars, syngas, biomass) directly into butadiene through biosynthetic pathways, eliminating the need for high-temperature thermal processing and associated energy-intensive mechanical systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention fundamentally changes the operating parameters from high-temperature thermal processes (steam cracking at 800-900°C) to mild biological conditions (fermentation at 30-40°C, atmospheric pressure). This parameter transformation enables butadiene production from renewable feedstocks using microbial metabolism rather than thermal decomposition
2Productivity
If fermentation to diols followed by dehydration is used to produce butadiene, then butadiene is produced, but additional processing steps and metal catalysts are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple conventional process steps (fermentation, dehydration, purification) into a single integrated biological system. The engineered microorganism performs both sugar metabolism and butadiene synthesis within one cell, producing butadiene as a direct fermentation product that can be continuously harvested from the broth without separate dehydration or catalyst recovery steps
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the problematic dehydration step that requires metal catalysts and additional equipment. By engineering microorganisms to produce butadiene directly through metabolic pathways, the process removes the need for separate chemical dehydration units, catalyst handling systems, and associated complex infrastructure
3Productivity
If petrochemically-derived butadiene is used, then production is maintained, but cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by instead of converting petroleum to butadiene through cracking, it converts renewable biological feedstocks (sugars, biomass, syngas) to butadiene through fermentation. This inversion of the carbon source and conversion pathway eliminates dependence on fossil fuels and reduces environmental harm associated with petroleum extraction and processing
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 continuous, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly production of butadiene, reducing energy consumption and waste, while allowing for the use of sustainable feedstocks, thereby advancing sustainable chemical production processes.
Implementation Method 1
One possible way to produce butadiene renewably involves fermentation of sugars or other feedstocks to produce diols, such as 1,4-butanediol or 1,3-butanediol
Implementation Method 2
butadiene gas (bp −4.4° C.) would be continuously emitted from the fermenter and readily condensed and collected
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a butadiene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce butadiene.