Abstract: A method of producing higher alkanones, preferably 6-undecanone, from ethanol and/or acetate, may include: (a) contacting the ethanol and/or acetate with at least one microorganism capable of carrying out carbon chain elongation to produce hexanoic acid and/or an ester thereof from the ethanol and/or acetate; (b) extracting the hexanoic acid and/or ester thereof from the contacting (a) using at least one extractant in an aqueous medium, the extractant including at least one alkyl-phosphine oxide and at least one C12+ alkane; or at least one trialkylamine and at least one C12+ alkane; and (c) contacting the extracted hexanoic acid and/or ester thereof from (b) with at least one ketonization catalyst and eventually a further C1 to C22 alkanoic acid under suitable reaction conditions for chemical ketonization of hexanoic acid and eventually the further alkanoic acid to a higher alkanone, preferably 6-undecanone.

Abstract: There is provided an acetogenic microbial cell which is capable of producing at least one higher alcohol from a carbon source, wherein the acetogenic microbial cell is genetically modified to comprise an increased expression relative to its wild type cell of at least one enzyme, E8, a butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA transferase (cat3). There is also provided a method and use of the cell to produce higher alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing propanol and/or propionic acid, the method comprising: (b) contacting at least one propionogen to carbon dioxide and to an aqueous medium comprising ethanol and acetate; wherein the acetate is maintained at a concentration of at least about 1 g/L in the aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing at least one alcohol from a carbon source, the method comprising: (a) producing the alcohol in an aqueous medium under aerobic conditions; and (b) extracting the alcohol from step (a) from the aqueous medium by: (bi) contacting the alcohol in the aqueous medium with at least one extracting medium for a time sufficient to extract the alcohol from the aqueous medium into the extracting medium, (bii) separating the extracting medium with the extracted alcohol from the aqueous medium wherein the extracting medium comprises:—oleyl alcohol; or—polypropylene glycol and an alkane wherein the alcohol comprises at least 3 carbon atoms.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing at least one unsaturated amino acid from at least one amino acid comprising at least two carbonyl groups, the method comprising (a) contacting a recombinant microbial cell with a medium comprising the amino acid comprising the carbonyl groups, wherein the cell is genetically modified to comprise—at least a first genetic mutation that increases the expression relative to the wild type cell of an enzyme (E) selected from the CYP152 10 peroxygenase family, and—at least a second genetic mutation that increases the expression relative to the wild type cell of at least one NAD(P)+ oxidoreductase (E2) and the corresponding mediator protein.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a method of producing methionine, the method comprising contacting vinylglycine or derivatives thereof with at least one free radical methyl mercaptan in a reaction medium.

Abstract: There is provided an acetogenic microbial cell which is capable of producing at least one higher alcohol from a carbon source, wherein the acetogenic microbial cell is genetically modified to comprise an increased expression relative to its wild type cell of at least one enzyme, E8, a butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA transferase (cat3). There is also provided a method and use of the cell to produce higher alcohols.

Abstract: There is provided amicrobial cell which is capable of producing acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate and/or 3-hydroxybutyrate variants, wherein the cell is genetically modified to comprise an increased expression relative to its wild type cell of: an enzyme E1 capable of catalysing the conversion of acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA; an enzyme E2 capable of catalysing the conversion of acetoacetyl-CoA to acetoacetate; and an enzyme E3 capable of catalysing the conversion of acetoacetate to 3-hydroxybutyrate and/or variants thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a microbial cell which is capable of producing at least one higher alcohol, wherein the microbial cell is genetically modified to include an increased expression relative to its wild type cell of at least one acyl-CoA reductase (E11). In particular, there is provided a microbial cell capable of producing at least one higher alcohol, wherein the microbial cell is genetically modified to include an increased expression relative to its wild type cell of at least one acyl-CoA reductase (E11) and wherein the cell is capable of producing a carboxylic acid and/or ester thereof using ethanol-carboxylate fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing at least one amino acid from a carbon source in aerobic conditions, the method comprising: (a)step of producing ethanol and/or acetate from the carbon source in aerobic conditions, comprising (i)contacting a reaction mixture comprising—a first acetogenic microorganism in an exponential growth phase; —free oxygen; and —a second acetogenic microorganism in a stationary phase wherein the first and second acetogenic microorganism is capable of converting the carbon source to the acetate and/or ethanol; and (b)step of contacting the acetate and/or ethanol from step (a) with a third microorganism capable of converting the acetate and/or ethanol to at least one amino acid.