# US 9,040,281 B2 · Method for producing aliphatic carboxylic acids

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- Number: US 9,040,281 B2
- Document ID: US9040281B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/232,724
- Filed: 2012-07-13
- Published: 2014-06-26
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-15
- Assignees: Verdant Bioproducts Limited
- Applicants: Irene Finnegan
- Inventors: Irene Finnegan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040281B2

## CPC

- C12P 7/6409: Fatty acids
- C12N 1/20: Bacteria; Culture media therefor
- C12N 1/205: Bacterial isolates
- C12N 9/0008: {acting on the aldehyde or oxo group of donors (1.2)}
- C12P 7/40: containing a carboxyl group {including Peroxycarboxylic acids}
- C12P 7/52: Propionic acid; Butyric acids
- C12P 7/54: Acetic acid (vinegar C12J)
- C12P 7/62: Carboxylic acid esters
- C12R 2001/02: Acetobacter
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- Y02P 20/52: using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C12R: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES C12C - C12Q, RELATING TO MICROORGANISMS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

The invention relates to a micro-organism comprising a hydrogenase enzyme system which is capable of converting carbon dioxide into formic acid and a second enzyme system which is capable of converting formic acid into aliphatic carboxylic acids having a chain length of five or more carbon atoms. Also described are various methods for producing oil, as well as other aspects of the invention.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing aliphatic carboxylic acids, the method comprising
converting carbon dioxide into formic acid by catalysis with a hydrogenase enzyme system in a medium; and
converting formic acid to aliphatic carboxylic acids having a chain length of five or more carbon atoms by catalysis with a second enzyme system in the medium,
wherein the hydrogenase enzyme system and the second enzyme system are from the Acetobacter strain having accession number NCIMB 41808 or a micro-organism derived therefrom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the medium comprises a micro-organism which is the Acetobacter strain having accession number NCIMB 41808 or a micro-organism derived therefrom.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the reaction to produce the aliphatic carboxylic acids takes place at a pH of between about 3.0 and about 8.5.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the reaction to produce the aliphatic carboxylic acids takes place at a temperature of between about 5° C. and about 60° C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein carbon dioxide is the sole source of carbon.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein carbon dioxide is bubbled through the medium.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the medium is an oil-water emulsion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the medium comprises a carbon dioxide sequestering agent.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the medium comprises an oxidising agent.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising one or more of the following steps:
1) separating the aliphatic carboxylic acids;
2) filtering the aliphatic carboxylic acids;
3) blending the aliphatic carboxylic acids with a different fuel;
4) chemically modifying the carboxylic acids; and
5) distilling and separating certain fractions from the aliphatic carboxylic acids.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the reaction to produce the aliphatic carboxylic acids takes place at a pH between about 6.0 and about 7.0.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the reaction to produce the aliphatic carboxylic acids takes place at a temperature of between about 15° C. and about 20° C.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the carboxylic acids are modified into esters, alcohols, ketones, or aldehydes.