Engineered Microbial Carbo Sugar Production for Petroleum-Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The contamination of groundwater with petroleum during hydraulic fracturing poses a significant challenge, necessitating an effective method to remove oil from water and contaminated surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Biological devices comprising microbial cells transformed with DNA constructs containing genes for cellulose synthase and galactomannan galactosyltransferase, which produce carbo sugars to alter petroleum oil viscosity and facilitate degreasing or decontamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydraulic fracturing is used to extract petroleum, then petroleum recovery is improved, but groundwater contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of petroleum contamination into a beneficial process by using the contaminated petroleum as a substrate for microbial fermentation. The microorganisms metabolize the petroleum hydrocarbons and convert them into valuable carbo sugars, thereby transforming the contamination problem into a resource recovery opportunity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces microbial cells as an intermediary between the contaminated petroleum and the desired product. These microorganisms serve as biocatalysts that facilitate the conversion of petroleum hydrocarbons into carbo sugars, mediating the transformation from harmful contaminant to useful product.
2Productivity
If carbo sugars are used to separate petroleum from water, then decontamination efficiency is improved, but production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service by allowing the microbial cells to autonomously produce the carbo sugars needed for separation. The same microbial system that metabolizes petroleum also generates the separation agent, eliminating the need for external production facilities and simplifying the overall process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two functions into a single integrated system: petroleum degradation and carbo sugar production. The microbial fermentation process simultaneously accomplishes both the removal of petroleum contaminants and the generation of separation agents, combining what would traditionally be separate processes.
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 carbo sugars effectively separate petroleum from water and degrade petroleum-coated surfaces, demonstrating rapid and efficient decontamination.
Implementation Method 1
Methods for altering the viscosity of petroleum oil using the carbo sugars are also described herein
Implementation Method 2
methods for degreasing or decontaminating water mixed with petroleum oil or other fatty substances
Implementation Method 3
The carbo sugars effectively separate petroleum from water and degrade petroleum-coated surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are biological devices and methods for using the same to produce carbo sugars. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing a cellulose synthase and galactomannan galactosyltransferase. In some instances, the biological devices also include a gene for lipase. Methods for altering the viscosity of petroleum oil using the carbo sugars are also described herein. Finally, methods for degreasing or decontaminating water mixed with petroleum oil or other fatty substances or a surface coated with petroleum oil or other fatty substances using the carbo sugars are described herein.