Genetic Determinants for Formate Metabolism in Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus
Abstract
Currently we do not have an efficient way to leverage biological energy production (e.g., biogas or biofuels) without a major loss of product. We also do not have an efficient way to store energy efficiently and cost-effectively beyond expensive and toxic batteries. We can now engineer bacteria and yeast to convert biomass for gasification into syn(thesis)gas (mainly carbon monoxide [CO], carbon dioxide [CO2], and hydrogen [H2]). The opportunity is that gasified solid waste or reformed biogas can be used as a feedstock, which takes away pressure on the food competition issue. Furthermore, this strategy can be utilized to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industries such as steel mills. Efforts are taken to broaden the product spectrum of acetogenic bacteria to serve as a basis for a bio-refinery concept to replace fossil fuel-based petro-refineries. The bacterial strain M. thermautotrophicus is an interesting candidate for a platform for biological power to gas applications because: 1) The microbe has a doubling time of three hour thus allowing for the production of energetic molecules (e.g., CH4). The elevated temperatures increase extraction of product gas and water that is produced during metabolism (metabolic water [CO2 + 4 H2 -> CH4 + 2 H2O]) from the liquid fermentation broth, while cooling needs are reduced. The biological chassis is a non-model organisms, which is genetically amenable to engineering techniques to produce non-natural products other than CH4 such as formate from H2 and CO2. The overall aim of this research is to aid in to providing a rigid platform for simultaneous energy storage and carbon recycling through a reliable and stable biological process that can be adapted to the needs of local and decentralized or larger and centralized conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 2019
- Source ID
- N629091912076
Entities
People
- Largus T. Angenent
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Tübingen