Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a process and an apparatus for recovering energy from the low energy density waste gas stream. The process and the apparatus allow a thermal oxidizer to oxidize the low energy density waste gas stream using a low energy density fuel gas such as syngas, BF gas, or biogas without the need for auxiliary high energy density sources.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for performing cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) and for expressing proteins in cells. Particularly disclosed are vectors comprising Golden Gate sites for cloning, methods for preparing such vectors, and the use thereof for performing CFPS and for expressing proteins in cells such as in naturally occurring or recombinant species of Clostridia, including Clostridium autoethanogenum.

Abstract: The invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms and methods for the biological production of ethylene glycol and precursors of ethylene glycol. In particular, the microorganism of the invention produces ethylene glycol or a precursor of ethylene glycol through one or more of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, oxaloacetate, citrate, malate, and glycine. The invention further provides compositions comprising ethylene glycol or polymers of ethylene glycol such as polyethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for producing one or more fermentation product in a multi-stage process including an inoculation reactor and at least one bioreactor. The inoculation reactor is fed a C1-containing gaseous substrate containing a reduced amount of hydrogen. The hydrogen is reduced to increase the proportion of CO in the C1-containing gaseous substrate being provided to the inoculation reactor. The inoculation reactor ferments the CO-rich C1-containing gaseous substrate and produces an inoculum, which is fed to at least one bioreactor. The bioreactor receives the C1-containing gaseous substrate, which may or may not contain reduced amounts of hydrogen, to produce one or more fermentation product. By providing a CO-rich C1-containing gaseous substrate to the inoculation reactor, both the inoculation reactor and the subsequent bioreactor(s), are able to have increased stability and product selectivity.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a fermentable gas stream from a gas source that contains one or more constituent which may be harmful to the fermentation process. To produce the fermentable gas stream, the gas stream is passed through a specifically ordered series of removal modules. The removal modules remove and/or convert various constituents found in the gas stream which may have harmful effects on downstream removal modules and/or inhibitory effects on downstream gas fermenting microorganisms. At least a portion of the fermentable gas stream is preferably capable of being passed to a bioreactor, which contains gas fermenting microorganisms, without inhibiting the fermentation process.

Abstract: The invention provides for the integration of a CO-consuming process, such as a gas fermentation process, with a CO2 electrolysis process. The invention is capable of utilizing a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate generated by an industrial process and provides for one or more removal modules to remove at least one constituent from a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate prior to passage of the gaseous substrate to a CO2 electrolysis module. The invention may further comprise one or more pressure modules, one or more CO2 concentration modules, one or more O2 separation modules, and/or an H2 electrolysis module. Carbon conversion efficiency is increased by recycling CO2 produced by a CO-consuming process to the CO2 electrolysis process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

Abstract: The invention provides microorganisms and methods for the production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from gaseous substrates. In particular, the invention provides a non-naturally occurring Wood-Ljungdahl microorganism comprising (a) an enzyme that converts acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA, (b) an enzyme that converts acetoacetyl-CoA to 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and (c) an enzyme that converts 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA to polyhydroxybutyrate, and methods related thereto.

Abstract: The invention present provides a method (and suitable apparatus) to convert biomass to ethanol, comprising gasifying the biomass to produce raw syngas; feeding the raw syngas to an acid-gas removal unit to remove at least some CO2 and produce a conditioned syngas stream; feeding the conditioned syngas stream to a fermentor to biologically convert the syngas to ethanol; capturing a tail gas from an exit of the fermentor, wherein the tail gas comprises at least CO2 and unconverted CO or H2; and recycling a first portion of the tail gas to the fermentor and/or a second portion of the tail gas to the acid-gas removal unit. This invention allows for increased syngas conversion to ethanol, improved process efficiency, and better overall biorefinery economics for conversion of biomass to ethanol.

Abstract: The invention provides for the integration of a gas fermentation process with a gasification process whereby effluent downstream from the gas fermentation process is recycled to the gasification process. The invention is capable of recycling one or more effluents including biogas generated from a wastewater treatment process, tail-gas generated from the fermentation process, unused syngas generated by the gasification process, microbial biomass generated from the fermentation process, microbial biomass generated from a wastewater treatment process, crude ethanol from the product recovery process, fusel oil from the product recovery process, microbial biomass depleted water, wastewater generated from the fermentation process, and clarified water from a wastewater treatment process to a gasification process.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for recovering products from a fermentation broth. The disclosure relates to the use of extractive distillation and/or dehydration to recover products which have close boiling points, such as ethanol and isopropanol, from a fermentation broth. In an embodiment, the recovery of product is completed in a manner that minimizes stress on the microbial biomass, such that it remains viable, at least in part, and may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in increased efficiency in the fermentation process. The extractive distillation vessel and/or dehydration reactor may be used downstream of a distillation vessel. To minimize stress on the microbial biomass the distillation vessel may be under vacuum. The extractive distillation vessel may be used alongside a separation vessel such that the separation vessel is capable of recycling extractive distillation agent.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods by which the economics of the gas fermentation process are improved. The invention provides for the integration of a fermentation process, with an industrial process and an electrolyzer process. The invention provides for the intermittent supply of electrolyzer feedstock from the electrolyzer process to the bioreactor for fermentation. The electrolyzer feedstock may displace at least a portion of the C1 feedstock from the industrial process. The electrolyzer feedstock may supplement the C1 feedstock from the industrial process. Whether or not the electrolyzer feedstock supplements or displaces the C1 feedstock with electrolyzer feedstock may be based upon a function of the cost per unit of the C1 feedstock, the cost per unit of the electrolyzer feedstock, and the value per unit of the fermentation product.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for reducing bio-catalytic oxidation of a product in a post-production stream. More particularly the invention provides a process for reducing bio-catalytic oxidation of an alcohol in a product stream, the product stream comprising an alcohol product, dissolved carbon dioxide, and at least one enzyme capable of oxidizing the alcohol. The invention finds applicability in fermentation processes, wherein a C1-fixing microorganism utilizes a C1-containing substrate to produce a fermentation product.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for producing one or more fermentation product in a multi-stage process including an inoculation reactor and at least one bioreactor. The inoculation reactor is fed a C1-containing gaseous substrate containing a reduced amount of hydrogen. The hydrogen is reduced to increase the proportion of CO in the C1-containing gaseous substrate being provided to the inoculation reactor. The inoculation reactor ferments the CO-rich C1-containing gaseous substrate and produces an inoculum, which is fed to at least one bioreactor. The bioreactor receives the C1-containing gaseous substrate, which may or may not contain reduced amounts of hydrogen, to produce one or more fermentation product. By providing a CO-rich C1-containing gaseous substrate to the inoculation reactor, both the inoculation reactor and the subsequent bioreactor(s), are able to have increased stability and product selectivity.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for performing cell-free RNA transcription and/or cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS). The disclosed compositions, methods, and kits include or utilize components prepared from a species of Clostridia such as cellular extracts from Clostridium autoethanogenum.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device and associated method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring bacterium having decreased or eliminated activity of an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction defined by EC 1.2.7.5, such as aldehyde:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (AOR). Optionally, the bacterium also has decreased or eliminated activity of an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction defined by EC 1.2.1.10 and/or EC 1.1.1.1, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, or bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase. The invention further provides methods of producing products by culturing the bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate containing one or more of CO, CO2, and H2.