Hydrocarbon Production, H2 Evolution And CO2 Conversion By Whole Cells Or Engineered Azotobacter Vinelandii Strains
Novel:Simple production of fuels that simultaneously combats global warming and energy shortagesFirst described bacterial enzyme catalyst for hydrocarbon synthesisEfficient and economic: Recycles harmful waste products into valuable hydrocarbons with high efficiencyGreen reaction runs at mild conditions and produce clean energy sourceExpensive reactor not neededEnergy-efficient method recycles cheap, plentiful, or undesirable chemicals
Hydrocarbons isolated primarily from fossil fuels (e.g., natural gas) are widely used as fuels and commercial products. Such natural sources of hydrocarbons are available in limited supply and their retrieval and processing can pose negative environmental effects. Undesirable chemicals such as carbon monoxide, which are thought to contribute to global warming, can come from combusting fossil fuels. Alternative sources of hydrocarbons are produced from industrial synthesis using metal catalysts. Industrial metal-catalyzed hydrocarbon synthesis requires high temperatures and pressures, as well as expensive reactor-related expenses. The high energy and cost demands, coupled with low efficiency inhibits widespread use. A system and method of converting undesirable chemicals to valuable hydrocarbons under low costs and mild energy conditions appropriate for large-scale fuel production is needed. UCI researchers have developed methods and compositions for genetically modifying soil bacterium (Azotobacter vinelandii) to express nitrogenase enzymes, which catalyze hydrocarbon synthesis from carbon monoxide in repeated cycles. Replacing metal catalysts with enzymes enables running complex reactions at mild conditions without costly reactors to produce hydrocarbons with high efficiency. The bacterial enzymes convert CO2 to CO, the starting material for hydrocarbon synthesis, and in turn produce hydrogen gas, a valuable clean energy source. The use of bacterial nitrogenase enzymes represent an attractive approach to explore and develop alternative ways to recycle atmospheric CO2 into biofuels while serving the need for cost- and energy-efficient industrial production of biofuels.
State Of Development Proof of concept has been demonstrated in preliminary experiments Tech ID/UC Case 28687/2016-331-0 Related Cases 2016-331-0
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