Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing lipids and amino acids from a gaseous substrate comprising methane and oxygen. The process uses a culture of a methanotrophic microorganism in a liquid nutrient medium. The methanotrophic microorganism can be a Methylomicrobium bacterium and more specifically Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1. The lipid products can be in the cellular membrane of the methanotroph and can be extracted in a separate extraction zone.

Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods are described for the efficient evaluation of C1-containing substrates, and especially for such evaluation conducted locally, or on-site, at a prospective facility for implementation of a biological conversion process for desired end product using a C1 carbon source. The exact composition of a given, industrial C1-containing substrate, as well as the range in composition fluctuations, are generally difficult to reproduce at a remote facility (e.g., a laboratory or a pilot-scale or demonstration-scale process), as required for the accurate prediction/modeling of commercial performance to justify large capital expenditures for commercial scale-up.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for the production of lipid products from a gaseous substrate using a two stage fermentation process. The method comprises providing a gaseous substrate comprising CO, CO2 or H2 or mixtures thereof, to a first bioreactor containing a culture or one or more microorganisms, and fermenting the substrate to produce acetate. The acetate from the first bioreactor is then provided to a second bioreactor, where it is used as a substrate for fermentation to lipids by one or more microalgae.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for improving efficiency of fermentation by arginine supplementation, and genetically modified bacterium for use therefor. More particularly the invention provides methods for (i) increasing the production ATP intensive products with arginine supplementation, (ii) increasing utilization of arginine by a C1-fixing bacterium; and (iii) providing C1-fixing bacterium with optimized arginine de-aminase pathways.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a terpene or a precursor thereof by microbial fermentation. Typically, the method involves culturing a recombinant bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate whereby the bacterium produces a terpene or a precursor thereof, such as mevalonic acid, isopentenyl pyrophosphate, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, isoprene, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, and/or farnesene. The bacterium may comprise one or more exogenous enzymes, such as enzymes in mevalonate, DXS, or terpene biosynthesis pathways.

Abstract: The invention provides animal feed comprising microbial biomass and methods of producing animal feed by culturing a microorganism to produce microbial biomass. In particular, the invention relates to animal feed produced by fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising one or more of CO, CO2, and H2, especially by a Gram-positive, anaerobic, and/or Clostridium microorganism.

Abstract: The invention provides processes and methods for utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising hydrogen (H2) and CO2. In particular, the invention allows for the conversion of at least a portion of the CO2 in the gaseous substrate to one or more products, such as ethanol, acetate, and/or 2,3-butanediol.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to method for producing products, particularly alcohols, by microbial fermentation. In particular, the invention relates to methods for increasing the efficiency of the fermentation, by providing a method for treating the used fermentation broth to produce a treated permeate which is then passed back to the bioreactor. The invention provides a method whereby at least one treatment step used to treat the permeated, produces a gaseous product which is then used in one or more stages of the fermentation process.

Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant, carboxydotrophic Clostridium bacterium that expresses one or more of pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (EC 1.2.7.1), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), and acetolactate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.5). The invention further provides a method of producing a fermentation product by fermenting the recombinant bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate comprising CO to produce one or more of ethanol, butanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, higher alcohols, butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, succinate, isoprenoids, fatty acids, biopolymers, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for the production of lipid products from a gaseous substrate using a two stage fermentation process. The method comprises providing a gaseous substrate comprising CO, CO2 or H2 or mixtures thereof, to a first bioreactor containing a culture or one or more microorganisms, and fermenting the substrate to produce acetate. The acetate from the first bioreactor is then provided to a second bioreactor, where it is used as a substrate for fermentation to lipids by one or more microalgae.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel bacterium with improved properties, including improved ethanol production, ethanol productivity, CO uptake, specific growth rate, ethanol to acetate ratio, and alcohol tolerance. The bacterium may be derived from Clostridium autoethanogenum and/or may comprise at least one DNA or amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16. In one embodiment, the bacterium is Clostridium autoethanogenum deposited under DSMZ accession number DSM23693 or a bacterium derived therefrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing products by microbial fermentation. The method comprises first converting a feed stream containing methane to a gaseous substrate comprising CO, of the invention include converting CO H2, and CO2 using a steam reforming zone and a water gas shift zone. The gaseous substrate is then converted to products such as alcohols and/or acids by to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids by fermentation using a carboxydotrophic microorganism.

Abstract: One or more genes in a biosynthesis pathway for a vitamin or other essential nutrient which is needed for the survival of a microorganism can be used as an effective selective marker to identify cells transformed with an exogenous nucleic acid. The microorganism does not naturally contain or express the one or more gene. This permits genetic manipulations to be performed. It permits lower cost fermentations to be performed. It permits production of the essential nutrient for subsequent commodity use.

Abstract: The invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms with modified hydrogenase activity and methods related thereto. Typically, the microorganisms are C1-fixing microorganisms with one or more disruptive mutations in a hydrogenase enzyme or a hydrogenase accessory enzyme. The microorganisms may have improved tolerance to toxins, such as acetylene, isocyanide, ammonium, or nitric oxide, improved production of products, such as ethanol, 2,3-butanediol, and isopropanol, and/or improved fixation of carbon, such as carbon derived from CO or CO2.

Abstract: The invention provides schemes for the integration of a fermentation process, with an electrolysis process, and a C1-generating industrial process. In particular, the invention provides process for utilizing electrolysis products, for example H2 and/or O2, to improve the process efficiency of at least one of the fermentation process or the C1-generating industrial process. More particularly, the invention provides a process whereby, H2 generated by electrolysis is used to improve the substrate efficiency for a fermentation process, and the O2 generated by the electrolysis process is used to improve the composition of the C1-containing tail gas generated by the C1-generating industrial process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a genetically engineered bacterium having an enzyme that converts 3-hydroxyisovaleryl-CoA to 3-hydroxyisovalerate and an enzyme that converts 3-hydroxyisovalerate to isobutylene. Typically, the bacterium is capable of producing isobutylene from a gaseous substrate containing CO, CO2, and/or H2, such as syngas or an industrial waste gas.

Abstract: Improvements in biological conversion processes and associated apparatuses are disclosed for the generation of useful end products such as ethanol, through metabolic pathways of C1-fixing bacteria that utilize, as a nutrient, a C1-carbon source from a C1-containing substrate such as an industrial waste gas. Particular aspects of the disclosure relate to the downstream recovery of ethanol and/or isopropanol from bleed and permeate streams and more particularly to performing such recovery with improved efficiency that can advantageously reduce capital (e.g., equipment) and/or operating (e.g., utility) costs.

Abstract: The invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms and methods for producing chorismate-derived products, such as para-hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylate, 2-aminobenzoate, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, and 4-hydroxycyclohexane carboxylic acid. Typically, the microorganism comprises at least one of (a) an exogenous chorismate pyruvate lyase, (b) an exogenous isochorismate synthase, (c) an exogenous isochorismate pyruvate lyase, and (d) a prephenate synthase comprising a disruptive mutation.

Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant, acetogenic bacterium that consumes a substrate comprising CH4 and converts at least a portion of the CH4 to a product. In particular, the bacterium of may comprise one or more of exogenous methane monooxygenase (MMO), exogenous nitrite reductase (NIR), and exogenous nitric oxide dismutase (NOD). The invention further provides a method for producing a product comprising providing a substrate comprising CH4 to a culture comprising a recombinant, acetogenic bacterium, whereby the bacterium converts at least a portion of the CH4 to a product.

Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods are described for the efficient evaluation of C1-containing substrates, and especially for such evaluation conducted locally, or on-site, at a prospective facility for implementation of a biological conversion process for desired end product using a C1 carbon source. The exact composition of a given, industrial C1-containing substrate, as well as the range in composition fluctuations, are generally difficult to reproduce at a remote facility (e.g., a laboratory or a pilot-scale or demonstration-scale process), as required for the accurate prediction/modeling of commercial performance to justify large capital expenditures for commercial scale-up.