Engineered Microorganisms for Sustainable Propylene Biosynthesis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing propylene rely on fossil-based feedstocks, leading to environmental concerns and high costs, with a need for more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives.

Innovation Solution

Development of non-naturally occurring microbial organisms engineered with propylene biosynthetic pathways, using nucleic acids encoding propylene pathway enzymes to produce propylene through fermentation from renewable feedstocks, eliminating the need for dehydration and reducing waste and emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If propylene is produced from fossil-based feedstocks through petroleum refining and steam cracking, then high production volume and established infrastructure are achieved, but environmental harm and dependency on non-renewable resources worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepropylene production volumeVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of feedstock source from fossil-based (petroleum, natural gas) to renewable-based (sugars, biomass, agricultural waste). This parameter change enables propylene production to maintain high productivity while eliminating the harmful environmental factors associated with depleting non-renewable resources and greenhouse gas emissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal cracking mechanism (steam cracking at high temperatures) with a biological fermentation mechanism using engineered microorganisms. This substitution eliminates the need for high-energy thermal processes and metal-based catalysts, thereby reducing environmental harm while maintaining production capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If propylene is produced through fermentation of sugars to alcohols followed by dehydration, then renewable feedstock utilization is achieved, but process complexity and energy consumption worsen due to the two-step process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverenewable feedstock utilizationVSAvoidprocess steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the alcohol production and propylene formation steps into a single fermentation process within the microorganism. The engineered microorganism simultaneously performs sugar-to-alcohol conversion and alcohol-to-propylene conversion, eliminating the need for separate dehydration equipment and reducing overall process complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an engineered microorganism as a biological intermediary that facilitates the direct conversion of sugars to propylene. This biological mediator contains the necessary enzymatic pathways to perform both fermentation and dehydration functions internally, simplifying the overall process architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If propylene is produced through conventional dehydration processes, then production efficiency is achieved, but metal catalyst dependency and harmful emissions worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidwaste and emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The engineered microorganism performs the dehydration function internally using its own enzymatic systems, eliminating the need for external metal catalysts. The microorganism self-manages the conversion of alcohol to propylene through its metabolic pathways, thereby avoiding the generation of catalyst waste and harmful emissions associated with conventional dehydration processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces metal-based catalytic dehydration with biological enzymatic dehydration within the microorganism. This substitution eliminates the need for metal catalysts and the associated harmful emissions, while maintaining production efficiency through the microorganism's natural metabolic capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 the efficient and sustainable production of propylene from renewable sources, reducing environmental impact and operational costs while providing a stable genetic modification for continuous bioprocesses.

Implementation Method 1

One possible way to produce propylene renewably involves fermentation of sugars or other feedstocks to produce the alcohols 2-propanol (isopropanol) or 1-propanol

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms containing propylene pathways comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a propylene pathway enzyme

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS9023636B2Microorganisms and methods for the biosynthesis of propylene

Publication Date: 2015.05.05 GENOMATICA INC

AI summary

The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a propylene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce propylene.