Thermococcus Hydrogenase for High-Purity Hydrogen Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing hydrogen, such as electrolysis and thermal-cracking of natural gas, require high-temperature and high-pressure conditions and generate harmful byproducts like carbon monoxide, while biological methods using photosynthetic bacteria have limitations in substrate inhibition and hydrogen production capacity.

Innovation Solution

Isolation of hydrogenases from the hyperthermophilic Thermococcus onnurineus NA1 strain, which can produce hydrogen in aerobic conditions, and the use of genes encoding these enzymes to develop methods for efficient hydrogen production at ambient temperatures without harmful byproducts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional methods (electrolysis, thermal-cracking) are used for hydrogen production, then hydrogen can be produced, but high-temperature and high-pressure conditions are required and harmful byproducts like carbon monoxide are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen production capacityVSAvoidharmful byproducts and energy requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful carbon monoxide byproduct into a useful energy source for hydrogen production. The isolated hydrogenase enzymes from Thermococcus spp. can utilize CO as a substrate to produce hydrogen, transforming the harmful substance into a beneficial resource. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical/thermal processes (electrolysis, thermal-cracking requiring high temperature and pressure) with a biological enzymatic system. The hydrogenase enzymes catalyze hydrogen production from CO or formate under ambient conditions, substituting high-energy mechanical processes with efficient biochemical reactions that occur at ambient temperature and pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If photosynthetic bacteria are used for hydrogen production, then hydrogen can be produced without high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, but substrate inhibition is severe when substrate of high partial pressure exists and hydrogen production capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy requirements and byproductsVSAvoidhydrogen production capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the substrate parameters by using CO or formate instead of the substrates required by photosynthetic bacteria. The isolated hydrogenases from Thermococcus spp. exhibit high activity with CO and formate, avoiding the substrate inhibition problems that plague photosynthetic bacterial systems. This parameter change enables high productivity without the limitations of photosynthetic methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If photosynthetic bacteria are used for hydrogen production, then hydrogen can be produced without high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, but hydrogen production capacity can be maintained only in the presence of light

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy requirements and byproductsVSAvoidenvironmental conditions for hydrogen production

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the light-dependent photosynthetic system with an enzymatic system that does not require light. The hydrogenase enzymes from Thermococcus spp. catalyze hydrogen production from CO or formate under ambient conditions without light dependency, providing environmental versatility and enabling hydrogen production in various settings regardless of light availability.

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

The method allows for high-purity hydrogen production at ambient conditions, utilizing carbon monoxide or formate as energy sources, and is economically advantageous by using waste carbon monoxide from petroleum purification processes without additional cooling.

Implementation Method 1

hydrogenases isolated from novel strains belonging to the genus Thermococcus... methods of producing hydrogen using strains having the genes... genes encoding the same... highly expressed, particularly in culture conditions supplemented with carbon monoxide (CO) or formate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS9976124B2Hydrogenase isolated from <i>Thermococcus </i>spp

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 KOREA OCEAN RES & DEV INST

AI summary

The present invention relates to novel hydrogenases isolated from novel hyperthermophilic strains belonging to Thermococcus spp., genes encoding the hydrogenases, and methods of producing hydrogen using strains having the genes. According to the hydrogen production methods of the invention, a large amount of hydrogen can be produced merely by culturing the strains in specific culture conditions. Thus, the methods of the invention have advantages in that they are more economic and efficient than existing hydrogen production methods and can produce hydrogen even at high temperature.