Engineered Microorganisms for Poly(HIBA) Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters result in significant greenhouse gas emissions and are not commercially viable due to toxicity issues, high purification costs, and inefficient conversion of feedstocks into products.
Innovation Solution
Engineered microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli, are developed to produce poly(hydroxyisobutyric acid) from various feedstocks using CoA-ligases and PHA polymerases, which can then be converted into methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters through thermolysis and esterification processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional methods are used to produce methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters, then production capacity is achieved, but significant greenhouse gas emissions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful greenhouse gas emissions into a beneficial outcome by using engineered microorganisms to biologically produce methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters from renewable feedstocks, transforming a harmful chemical process into an environmentally friendly biological process that reduces carbon footprint while maintaining production capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the production process by shifting from petrochemical-based conventional methods to biologically-based methods using engineered microorganisms, altering the source of feedstocks, the production mechanism, and the environmental impact profile while achieving commercial viability
2Quantity of substance
If direct fermentation methods are used to produce methacrylic acid, then product is obtained, but toxicity to microorganism and high purification costs occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance - poly(3-hydroxyisobutyric acid) (P3HB) - that serves as a stable storage form of the product within the microorganism. This intermediary allows the microorganism to produce the compound without direct toxicity, and the polymer form facilitates easier recovery and conversion to the final product, reducing purification costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by having the microorganism pre-produce and store the product as a polymer (P3HB) before the actual conversion to methacrylic acid. This preliminary polymerization step protects the microorganism from toxicity during fermentation and simplifies subsequent product recovery and conversion processes
3Productivity
If expensive feedstocks are used for fermentation, then product production is achieved, but high feedstock cost occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing an engineered microorganism that can utilize multiple types of feedstocks including glucose, glycerol, and other carbon sources. This multi-functionality allows the system to switch between different feedstocks based on availability and cost, maintaining productivity while reducing feedstock costs through flexible substrate utilization
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 method provides a commercially viable and environmentally friendly route to produce methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and overcoming toxicity and purification challenges by utilizing low-cost feedstocks and minimizing product-related toxicity.
Implementation Method 1
engineered microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli, are developed to produce poly(hydroxyisobutyric acid) from various feedstocks using CoA-ligases and PHA polymerases
Implementation Method 2
which can then be converted into methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters through thermolysis and esterification processes
Implementation Method 3
converted into methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters through thermolysis and esterification processes
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to microorganisms capable of producing poly(hydroxyisobutyric acid) (poly(HIBA)) from feedstocks and methods of producing poly(HIBA), methacrylic acid (MAA), and methacrylate esters (MAE) from feedstocks.