Method for production of n-propanol and other C3-carbon containing products from syngas by symbiotic arrangement of C1-fixing and C3-producing anaerobic microorganism cultures
OwnerRichard Tobey, Rathin Datta +3inventors
InventorsRichard Tobey, Rathin Datta, Michael Enzien, Robert Hickey, William Levinson
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Abstract
This invention provides methods and systems for the production of propanol. Specifically, the methods and systems of the present invention use symbiotic arrangement of anaerobic microorganism cultures for the production of propanol from syngas.
Claims23
A method for producing propanol comprising:
- a) exposing gaseous substrates selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen or combinations thereof to a C1-fixing microorganism, in a first fermentation zone, under conditions effective to convert the gaseous substrate into ethanol or acetate;
- and,
- b) passing ethanol and/or acetate from step a) to a C3-producing microorganism, in a second fermentation zone, under conditions effective to convert the ethanol and/or acetate to propionate and/or propanol.
An anaerobic symbiotic system for conversion of syngas to propanol and/or propionic acid, the system comprising syngas, culture media, a C1-fixing microorganism in a first fermentation zone, a C3-producing microorganism in a second fermentation zone, a CO2 and H2 source and a transfer conduit for exchanging culture media between the C1-fixing microorganism in the first fermentation zone and the C3-producing microorganism in the second fermentation zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.