Nitrous Oxide Reductase Variants for Biological NOx Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nitrogen oxide (NOx) removal processes, particularly chemical methods, face challenges such as high energy costs, secondary waste generation, and incomplete reduction, necessitating the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives.
Innovation Solution
Recombinant microorganisms engineered with foreign genes encoding variants of nitrous oxide reductase proteins are used to reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations by catalyzing its conversion to nitrogen (N2), offering a biological and environmentally friendly solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical reduction methods (SCR/SNCR) are used to remove nitrogen oxide, then NOx removal efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and catalyst cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical reduction methods (SCR/SNCR) with a biological process using recombinant microorganisms that express nitrous oxide reductase. This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature catalytic converters and chemical reductants, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining NOx removal efficiency through enzymatic conversion of N2O to N2.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the biological parameters of the microorganism by introducing foreign genes encoding nitrous oxide reductase variants with optimized activity. This genetic modification enhances the enzyme's catalytic efficiency at lower temperatures, enabling effective N2O reduction without the high energy input required by chemical methods.
2Productivity
If chemical reduction methods are used to remove nitrogen oxide, then NOx removal efficiency is improved, but secondary waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical reduction processes with a biological system using recombinant microorganisms. This substitution eliminates the generation of secondary waste products associated with chemical methods, as the biological process converts N2O directly to N2 through enzymatic action, producing no harmful byproducts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful N2O greenhouse gas into beneficial N2 through the action of nitrous oxide reductase. This transformation not only removes the harmful substance but also produces a harmless end product, effectively turning an environmental problem into a beneficial outcome without generating secondary waste.
3Productivity
If chemical reduction methods are used to remove nitrogen oxide, then NOx removal efficiency is improved, but N2O may be generated as a result of incomplete reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directly addresses N2O generation by introducing nitrous oxide reductase into recombinant microorganisms. This enzyme specifically catalyzes the reduction of N2O to N2, converting the harmful incomplete reduction product into a harmless substance. The biological system thus eliminates the N2O generation problem inherent in chemical reduction methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces nitrous oxide reductase as an intermediary enzyme that mediates the conversion of N2O to N2. This biological catalyst acts as a bridge between the harmful N2O and the harmless N2, ensuring complete reduction and preventing N2O accumulation that occurs in chemical reduction processes.
4Use of energy by moving object
If biological processes are used to remove nitrogen oxide, then energy consumption is reduced, but treatment efficiency may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the biological process by modifying the nitrous oxide reductase enzyme through genetic engineering. Variants of the enzyme with enhanced catalytic activity and stability are introduced into recombinant microorganisms, significantly improving treatment efficiency while maintaining the low energy consumption advantage of biological processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite biological systems by combining recombinant microorganisms with optimized nitrous oxide reductase variants. This composite approach integrates multiple functional elements (host cell, foreign gene, modified enzyme) to achieve both high treatment efficiency and energy efficiency, overcoming the limitations of conventional biological 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 recombinant microorganisms effectively convert N2O to N2, enhancing the efficiency of NOx reduction while minimizing secondary waste and energy consumption, providing a promising alternative to traditional chemical methods.
Implementation Method 1
a microorganism serving as a biological catalyst may be used instead of a chemical catalyst, to oxidize or reduce NOx or to fix NOx as part of a cell
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are polynucleotides encoding variants of nitrous oxide reductase proteins, recombinant microorganisms including a foreign gene encoding a variant of a nitrous oxide reductase protein, and a composition comprising the recombinant microorganism or the variant of a nitrous oxide reductase protein for use in removing nitrous oxide in a sample.