Abstract: Synthetic enzymatic cascades are provided that continuously produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from a variety of fuel sources. The cascades are prepared by expressing one or more NADH-dependent dehydrogenases, polyphosphate NAD+ kinases (PPNK), NADPH oxidases, and particular reversible ATP-NAD+ kinases (NADK). The NADH-dependent dehydrogenases oxidize fuel sources such as formate and methanol while converting NAD+ to NADH. The PPNKs convert the NADH to NADPH. The NADPH oxidases convert NADPH to NADP+. The NADKs then convert the NADP+ to NAD+ while also facilitating conversion of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to ATP. Human NADK exhibits high affinity for NAD+ and is thus impeded in the generation of ATP products via product inhibition. Thus, pigeon, duck, and cat NADK isoforms are implemented in the cascade instead. The cascades generate a low-cost, continuous source ATP product for use in numerous in vitro applications such as cell-free protein production.

Abstract: Rare earth elements (REEs) are recovered by dissolving an REE-containing source in one or more solvents. The resulting solution is contacted with block V repeats-in-toxin (RTX) domains of adenylate cyclase from Bordetella pertussis. These polypeptides are generally intrinsically disordered. However, upon binding an amount of the REEs and/or REE-containing compounds, the polypeptide folds to form a beta roll (BR) secondary structure. The polypeptides also adopt the BR structure at very low pH, e.g., below about 1.5, yet are still capable of effectively binding REEs. The metal-peptide constructs can then be isolated for recovery of REE products. Native and synthetic RTX/BR domains can be used to bind and recover REEs with higher binding capacity than lanmodulin and enhanced REE selectivity. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure can be used to extract REEs from electronic wastes such as NdFeB magnets, seaweed ashes, used during biomining and bioleaching operations, etc.

Abstract: A copper concentrate such as chalcopyrite is contacted with an aqueous solution includes acids and a reducing agent, such as vanadium (II) ions, chromium (II) ions, or tungstozincic acid (H6ZnW12O40). The aqueous solution reduces the copper in the copper concentrate, which can then dissolve into the solution for recovery therefrom, or precipitate out of solution as copper compounds or elemental copper for recovery in as a solid phase product. The solid phase product can then be isolated, dissolved, and further electrowinned to recover a copper product from the copper concentrate. Oxidized reducing agent can be recovered in an electrochemical device with ferrous iron reactants. Hydrometallurgical routes to convert copper concentrates to copper are potentially less expensive and less polluting than current pyrometallurgical processing and an advantageous response to environmental and economic pressures for increased copper production.

Abstract: An electrochemical system and process are provided to convert an amount of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) to a product including copper ions. In an electrochemical reactor, a potential is applied across an anode and a cathode to convert the chalcopyrite to an intermediate, chalcocite (Cu2S). The anode is covered to prevent contact with the intermediate, thus limiting subsequent conversion of the intermediate to covellite (CuS) in favor of conversion to a material more suited to chemical oxidation, cuprite (Cu2O). For example, the anode can be covered with one or more layers of filter paper. Upon application of an oxidizing agent, the cuprite is oxidized to produce a product including copper ions. The cathode and covered anode allow for efficient and inexpensive processing. The cost of this technique is comparable to industry standards, and moreover, has a much smaller environmental footprint than heat-based copper extraction.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a biofuel using genetically modified sulfur-oxidizing and iron-reducing bacteria (SOIRB) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing a SOIRB that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a biofuel; feeding a first source of ferric iron to the SOIRB; feeding sulfur, water, and carbon dioxide to the SOIRB; producing at least the first particular biofuel, a first source of ferrous iron, sulfate, excess ferric iron, and an SOIRB biomass; electrochemically reducing the excess ferric iron to a second source of ferrous iron; providing an iron-oxidizing bacteria that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a second biofuel; producing at least the second biofuel, a second source of ferric iron, and an IOB biomass; and feeding the second source of ferric iron to the SOIRB.

Abstract: Methods and systems for capturing and storing carbon dioxide are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: mixing materials including magnesium or calcium with one or more acids and chelating agents to form a magnesium or calcium-rich solvent; using the organic acids derived from biogenic wastes as acids or chelating agents; generating carbonate ions by reacting a gas including carbon dioxide with a carbonic anhydrase biocatalyst; reacting the solvent with the carbonate ions to form magnesium or calcium carbonates; recycling a solution containing the biocatalyst after forming magnesium or calcium carbonates for re-use in the generating step; using the magnesium and calcium carbonates as carbon neutral filler materials and using the silica product as green filler materials or inexpensive absorbents.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a Ca2+ precipitable polypeptide tags and cassettes useful for purification of molecules from heterogeneous samples. The invention also relates to methods for bioseparation of molecules comprising Ca2+ precipitable tags and cassettes.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a peptide that forms a calcium-dependent hydrogel using a rationally engineered beta roll peptide. In the absence of calcium, the peptide is intrinsically disordered. Upon addition of calcium, the peptide forms a corkscrew-like structure. In one embodiment, one face of the beta roll is mutated to comprise leucine residues. In some embodiments, a leucine zipper forming helical domain to the engineered beta roll forms hydrogels by physical cross-linking in calcium rich environments.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a peptide that forms a calcium-dependent hydrogel using a rationally engineered beta roll peptide. In the absence of calcium, the peptide is intrinsically disordered. Upon addition of calcium, the peptide forms a corkscrew-like structure. In one embodiment, one face of the beta roll is mutated to comprise leucine residues. In some embodiments, a leucine zipper forming helical domain to the engineered beta roll forms hydrogels by physical cross-linking in calcium rich environments.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a biofuel using genetically modified sulfur-oxidizing and iron-reducing bacteria (SOIRB) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing a SOIRB that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a biofuel; feeding a first source of ferric iron to the SOIRB; feeding sulfur, water, and carbon dioxide to the SOIRB; producing at least the first particular biofuel, a first source of ferrous iron, sulfate, excess ferric iron, and an SOIRB biomass; electrochemically reducing the excess ferric iron to a second source of ferrous iron; providing an iron-oxidizing bacteria that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a second biofuel; producing at least the second biofuel, a second source of ferric iron, and an IOB biomass; and feeding the second source of ferric iron to the SOIRB.

Abstract: Methods and systems for capturing and storing carbon dioxide are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: mixing materials including magnesium or calcium with one or more acids and chelating agents to form a magnesium or calcium-rich solvent; using the organic acids derived from biogenic wastes as acids or chelating agents; generating carbonate ions by reacting a gas including carbon dioxide with a carbonic anhydrase biocatalyst; reacting the solvent with the carbonate ions to form magnesium or calcium carbonates; recycling a solution containing the biocatalyst after forming magnesium or calcium carbonates for re-use in the generating step; using the magnesium and calcium carbonates as carbon neutral filler materials and using the silica product as green filler materials or inexpensive absorbents.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a biofuel using genetically modified sulfur-oxidizing and iron-reducing bacteria (SOIRB) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing a SOIRB that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a biofuel; feeding a first source of ferric iron to the SOIRB; feeding sulfur, water, and carbon dioxide to the SOIRB; producing at least the first particular biofuel, a first source of ferrous iron, sulfate, excess ferric iron, and an SOIRB biomass; electrochemically reducing the excess ferric iron to a second source of ferrous iron; providing an iron-oxidizing bacteria that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a second biofuel; producing at least the second biofuel, a second source of ferric iron, and an IOB biomass; and feeding the second source of ferric iron to the SOIRB.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a Ca2+ precipitable polypeptide tags and cassettes useful for purification of molecules from heterogeneous samples. The invention also relates to methods for bioseparation of molecules comprising Ca2+ precipitable tags and cassettes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a Ca2+ precipitable polypeptide tags and cassettes useful for purification of molecules from heterogeneous samples. The invention also relates to methods for bioseparation of molecules comprising Ca2+ precipitable tags and cassettes.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a particular biofuel or a particular chemical using genetically modified iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB) and copper as a redox mediator are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing an IOB that have been genetically modified to enable them to generate the particular biofuel or the particular chemical; feeding a first source of ferrous iron to the IOB; feeding water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen to the IOB; producing one of the particular biofuel and the particular chemical, ferric iron, and an IOB biomass; providing a first source of copper metal; solubilizing the first source of copper metal to produce cupric ions and reduce the ferric iron to ferrous iron; electrochemically reducing the cupric ions to produce a second source of copper metal; feeding ferrous iron reduced from the ferric iron to the IOB; and feeding the second source of copper metal to the IOB.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a peptide that forms a calcium-dependent hydrogel using a rationally engineered beta roll peptide. In the absence of calcium, the peptide is intrinsically disordered. Upon addition of calcium, the peptide forms a corkscrew-like structure. In one embodiment, one face of the beta roll is mutated to comprise leucine residues. In some embodiments, a leucine zipper forming helical domain to the engineered beta roll forms hydrogels by physical cross-linking in calcium rich environments.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a peptide that forms a calcium-dependent hydrogel using a rationally engineered beta roll peptide. In the absence of calcium, the peptide is intrinsically disordered. Upon addition of calcium, the peptide forms a corkscrew-like structure. In one embodiment, one face of the beta roll is mutated to comprise leucine residues. In some embodiments, a leucine zipper forming helical domain to the engineered beta roll forms hydrogels by physical cross-linking in calcium rich environments.

Abstract: Methods and systems for capturing and storing carbon dioxide are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: mixing materials including magnesium or calcium with one or more acids and chelating agents to form a magnesium or calcium-rich solvent; using the organic acids derived from biogenic wastes as acids or chelating agents; generating carbonate ions by reacting a gas including carbon dioxide with a carbonic anhydrase biocatalyst; reacting the solvent with the carbonate ions to form magnesium or calcium carbonates; recycling a solution containing the biocatalyst after forming magnesium or calcium carbonates for re-use in the generating step; using the magnesium and calcium carbonates as carbon neutral filler materials and using the silica product as green filler materials or inexpensive absorbents.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a biofuel using genetically modified sulfur-oxidizing and iron-reducing bacteria (SOIRB) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing a SOIRB that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a biofuel; feeding a first source of ferric iron to the SOIRB; feeding sulfur, water, and carbon dioxide to the SOIRB; producing at least the first particular biofuel, a first source of ferrous iron, sulfate, excess ferric iron, and an SOIRB biomass; electrochemically reducing the excess ferric iron to a second source of ferrous iron; providing an iron-oxidizing bacteria that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a second biofuel; producing at least the second biofuel, a second source of ferric iron, and an IOB biomass; and feeding the second source of ferric iron to the SOIRB.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a biofuel using genetically modified iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing an IOB that have been genetically modified to enable them to generate a biofuel or chemical; feeding a first source of ferrous iron to the IOB; feeding water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen to the IOB; producing at least the biofuel or chemical, ferric iron, and an IOB biomass; and preventing ferric precipitates from forming. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include the following: a bioreactor including IOB that have been genetically modified to enable them to generate a biofuel; a first source of ferrous iron; sources of water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen; a source of anti-ferric precipitating agent in fluid communication with the bioreactor; and a electrochemical reactor that is configured to electrochemically reduce ferric iron to a second source of ferrous iron.