Thermococcus onnurineus MC02 Mutant for Hydrogen Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biological hydrogen production methods face challenges such as high energy requirements for culturing photosynthetic microorganisms and substrate inhibition, which limit hydrogen production efficiency and require continuous light sources.

Innovation Solution

A mutant strain of Thermococcus onnurineus MC02 with increased expression of the rchA gene, utilizing specific promoters to enhance gene expression and stability, is cultured under controlled temperature and carbon monoxide pressure conditions to enhance hydrogen production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional water electrolysis or thermal cracking methods are used for hydrogen production, then hydrogen can be produced, but high temperature and high pressure conditions are required and carbon monoxide is emitted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen productionVSAvoidhigh temperature condition

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the operational parameters from high temperature/pressure (traditional methods) to ambient temperature and pressure (biological method using Thermococcus onnurineus MC02), thereby eliminating the need for energy-intensive equipment while maintaining hydrogen production capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces mechanical/thermal systems (electrolysis, thermal cracking) with a biological system (anaerobic microorganism Thermococcus onnurineus MC02) that produces hydrogen through metabolic processes, eliminating the need for high temperature and pressure equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Temperature

If photosynthetic microorganisms are used for hydrogen production, then hydrogen can be produced without high temperature or pressure, but high energy is required for culturing and continuous light sources are needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow temperature conditionVSAvoidenergy for culturing

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses an anaerobic microorganism system that operates autonomously without requiring continuous external energy input like light sources. The microorganism naturally produces hydrogen through its metabolic processes when provided with organic substrates, eliminating the need for continuous energy supply

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using photosynthetic microorganisms that require light energy input, the invention inverts the approach by using anaerobic microorganisms that produce hydrogen through dark fermentation processes, eliminating the dependency on continuous light sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If traditional photosynthetic microorganisms are used, then hydrogen production can occur, but substrate inhibition occurs at high substrate concentrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen productionVSAvoidsubstrate inhibition

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and utilizes specific genetic elements (rchA gene and codh-mch-mnh3 cluster) from the microorganism to enhance hydrogen production capability, thereby improving productivity while the engineered strain demonstrates reduced substrate inhibition compared to traditional photosynthetic microorganisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 mutant strain demonstrates significantly higher hydrogen production rates and tolerance to carbon monoxide, achieving efficient hydrogen production without the need for high temperature or pressure and using synthetic or steel industry by-product gases.

Implementation Method 1

a promoter inducing the expressions of rchA gene and codh-mch-mnh3 cluster can increase hydrogen production from carbon monoxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGene expression:

Implementation Method 2

the mutant strain may have increased replication, transcription and/or translation rate of the gene

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTranscription:

Implementation Method 3

a method for producing hydrogen includes preparing a mutant strain belonged to the genus Thermococcus having increased expression of rchA gene, and culturing the mutant strain to produce hydrogen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS9598705B2Thermococcus onnurineus MC02 and method of hydrogen production using thereof

Publication Date: 2017.03.21 KOREA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

The present invention provides Thermococcus onnurineus MC02 strain (accession no. KCTC12511BP) having increased hydrogen production ability, wherein the expression of rchA gene of the strain increases. Also, the present invention provides a method for producing the strain belonged to the genus Thermococcus having increased hydrogen production ability comprising, increasing the expression of rchA gene of the strain, and hydrogen production method using the strain.