UC Case No. 2008-384
Summary
UCLA researchers have discovered a way to convert carbon dioxide into potential biofuels through the metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria. This method enables more efficient production of biofuels using an industrial waste product as a starting material.
Background
The need to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels has stimulated interest in the production of renewable fuels. The most common biofuel, ethanol, suffers from several limitations. Its hygroscopicity, the ability of a substance to attract water, poses problems for distribution and storage. Ethanol also has a low energy content, making production from sources such as corn non-ideal as a result of the energy that must be invested for its production. There is a need for biofuels with more desirable properties as well as a means for their facile production, ideally from sources other than those that are part of the food supply.
Innovation
Researchers at UCLA have employed metabolic engineering methodologies to use photosynthetic cyanobacteria to convert carbon dioxide first into carbohydrates, and then into carboxylic acid intermediates. These organic intermediates can then be enzymatically converted to higher alcohols, which have potential applications as biofuels.
Applications
▶ Biofuels
▶ Organic solvents
Advantages
▶ Biofuels that are higher energy density and less hygroscopic than ethanol
▶ Large scale fermentation provides for facile production
▶ Uses an industrial waste product as feedstock
State Of Development
Isobutanol has been produced using this methodology, and it can be applied to produce other higher alcohols.