Microbial Isoprene Purification via Cooling and Zeolite Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing isoprene rely heavily on petroleum sources, which are environmentally unfriendly and cannot meet the growing demand for sustainable, renewable isoprene.
Innovation Solution
Microbial-derived isoprene compositions are produced and purified using microbial host cells capable of making isoprene, with methods involving cooling steps and optional use of modified zeolites or molecular sieves to achieve high purity levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If petroleum-based steam cracking process is used to produce isoprene, then large quantities of isoprene can be produced, but environmental sustainability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental production parameter from petroleum-based chemical cracking to microbial fermentation, transforming the feedstock source and production mechanism while maintaining commercial viability. This resolves the contradiction by achieving high productivity through scalable fermentation processes while eliminating environmental harm associated with petroleum extraction and cracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical steam cracking system with a biological microbial fermentation system. Microorganisms naturally produce isoprene through metabolic pathways, substituting harsh chemical processes with gentle biological conversion, thereby maintaining production capacity while improving environmental sustainability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If isoprene is extracted from rubber plants, then renewable isoprene is obtained, but extraction yield is low and cannot meet commercial demand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a microbial copy of the isoprene production pathway found in rubber plants. By engineering microorganisms to express the same isoprene synthase enzymes and metabolic pathways, the system replicates natural isoprene production at much higher densities and scales, maintaining renewability while achieving commercial productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary genetic engineering of microbial host cells to establish high-capacity isoprene production pathways before fermentation. This preliminary preparation of microbial factories enables them to produce isoprene at high yields during fermentation, overcoming the low extraction yield limitation of direct plant harvesting.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If microbial host cells are used to produce isoprene, then sustainable production is achieved, but purification complexity increases due to gaseous composition and impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of isoprene from gaseous to liquid state through controlled cooling and condensation. This phase change enables efficient separation of isoprene from gaseous fermentation byproducts and simplifies purification by concentrating the product in liquid form, reducing overall process complexity despite the gaseous nature of microbial isoprene production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts isoprene from the complex gaseous fermentation broth by selective condensation and separation techniques. By taking out the isoprene component through phase transition and selective condensation, the purification process becomes more manageable, separating the desired product from water, CO2, and other fermentation byproducts.
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 microbial-derived isoprene compositions achieve high purity levels with reduced impurities, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional petroleum-based production methods.
Implementation Method 1
The gaseous composition is cooled to a temperature between about 10° C. and about -15° C., thereby resulting in a second gaseous composition and wherein the second gaseous composition comprises less water than the first gaseous composition
Implementation Method 2
flowing the second gaseous composition through a second chiller wherein the second chiller has a temperature below -35° C.; and collecting the resulting liquid isoprene composition
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is a gaseous isoprene composition comprising isoprene, carbon dioxide and water, wherein the isoprene is in an amount between about 0.1% and about 15% by volume; wherein the carbon dioxide is in an amount between about 0.04% and about 35% by volume; wherein the water is in an amount greater than about 70% of its saturation amount. Also provided herein is a liquid isoprene composition comprising isoprene in an amount of at least 65% by weight and carbon dioxide in an amount between about 0.01% and about 1% by weight.