Microbial Fatty Alcohol Production from Renewable Carbon Sources

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Solution Overview

Problem

The petroleum industry faces challenges including high exploration and extraction costs, environmental damage, and the depletion of a limited resource, along with the need for efficient production of specialty chemicals that currently require extensive refining and energy-intensive processes.

Innovation Solution

Engineering microorganisms to produce renewable petroleum products, such as fatty aldehydes and alcohols, by expressing specific genes encoding fatty aldehyde and alcohol biosynthetic polypeptides in host cells, which can convert these compounds directly into desired chemicals without extensive refining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If petroleum exploration and extraction methods are used, then petroleum products can be obtained, but exploration and extraction costs are high and environmental damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepetroleum productionVSAvoidexploration and extraction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical petroleum extraction systems with a biological production system using genetically engineered microorganisms. The microorganisms metabolically convert renewable carbon sources into fatty alcohols through enzymatic pathways, substituting the mechanical drilling and extraction processes with biological synthesis, thereby eliminating exploration costs and reducing environmental damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of feedstock from non-renewable petroleum to renewable carbon sources (such as sugars, starches, or cellulosic materials). This parameter change enables sustainable production without the need for expensive exploration and extraction activities, while also reducing environmental impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If petroleum refining processes are used to produce specialty chemicals, then chemicals can be obtained, but extensive refining and energy consumption are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecialty chemical productionVSAvoidrefining energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces energy-intensive mechanical refining processes with metabolic pathways in genetically engineered microorganisms. The microorganisms naturally convert carbon sources into target chemicals through enzymatic reactions, eliminating the need for high-temperature cracking, distillation, and other energy-consuming refining operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The microorganisms perform the chemical synthesis themselves through their metabolic machinery. The engineered pathways enable the cells to autonomously convert substrates into fatty alcohols and other specialty chemicals, replacing external energy input required for traditional refining with the microorganisms' own metabolic energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If petroleum is transported over great distances, then petroleum products can be delivered, but shipping costs and environmental risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepetroleum product deliveryVSAvoidshipping cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces long-distance mechanical transportation with localized in-situ production. Genetically engineered microorganisms are deployed at or near the point of use to produce fatty alcohols and chemicals from locally available renewable carbon sources, eliminating the need for costly and environmentally risky transport infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent shifts the production paradigm from centralized remote extraction to distributed local production. By enabling chemicals to be produced in place where they are needed, the system adds the dimension of spatial distribution, eliminating transportation requirements and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 allows for the local, cost-effective production of renewable biofuels and chemicals, reducing environmental impact and energy consumption, while addressing the limitations of traditional petroleum-based fuels and chemicals.

Implementation Method 1

expressing in a host cell a gene encoding a fatty aldehyde biosynthetic polypeptide... wherein the polypeptide has carboxylic acid reductase activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic reduction: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

Engineering microorganisms to produce renewable petroleum products, such as fatty aldehydes and alcohols

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS10961553B2Methods and compositions for producing fatty alcohols

Publication Date: 2021.03.30 GENOMATICA INC

AI summary

Methods and compositions, including nucleotide sequences, amino acid sequences, and host cells, for producing fatty alcohols are described.