Compositions and methods for recovery of stranded gas and oil

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016333307-A1
Application number	US-201515111723-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for using recombinant C1 metabolizing microorganisms capable of metabolizing sulfur containing compounds and other contaminants to biologically convert sour or acidic natural gas into high-value molecules, and to allow recovery of stranded oil.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for treating gas, comprising culturing a first recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism with a tainted gas feedstock,
wherein the tainted gas feedstock comprises a C 1 substrate and an S substrate; wherein the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism comprises a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate; and wherein the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism assimilates and/or oxidizes each substrate.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate is a hydrogen sulfide:NADP + oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, sulfite oxidase, or any combination thereof.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate is hydrogen sulfide:NADP + oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate is hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate is sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate is sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate is a hydrogen sulfide:NADP + oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, or sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, and wherein endogenous sulfite oxidase activity is increased.

8 . The method according to any one of claims 1 - 7 , wherein the C 1 substrate, the S substrate, or both are converted into a biological material.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the biological material comprises an animal feed, a fertilizer or an oil composition.

10 . The method according to any one of claims 1 - 7 , wherein the S substrate is oxidized to a sulfate.

11 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tainted gas feedstock is a light alkane gas, natural gas, unconventional natural gas, syngas, casinghead gas, wellhead condensate, or any combination thereof.

12 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tainted gas feedstock is an acid gas or a sour gas.

13 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof; and wherein the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism converts the C 1 substrate into an oil composition.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the oil composition is substantially located in the cell membrane of the C 1 metabolizing microorganism.

15 . The method according to claim 13 or 14 , wherein the method further comprises the step of obtaining the oil composition by extraction.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises the step of refining the extracted oil composition into a fuel, wherein the fuel comprises jet fuel, diesel fuel, paraffinic kerosene, gasoline, or a combination thereof.

17 . The method according to any one of claims 1 - 12 , wherein the method further comprises a second recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof, wherein the second recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes; and wherein the second recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof oxidizes the C 1 substrate into an alcohol composition.

18 . The method according to any one of claims 1 - 12 , wherein the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes; and wherein the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof oxidizes the C 1 substrate into an alcohol composition.

19 . The method according to claim 17 or 18 , wherein the polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes is a monooxygenase selected from pMMO, sMMO, AMO, pBMO, sBMO, sPMO, PMO:P450, P450, or any combination thereof.

20 . The method according to any one of claims 1 - 12 , wherein the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid converting enzyme; and wherein the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism converts the C 1 substrate into a C 8 -C 24 fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or any combination thereof.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the fatty acid converting enzyme is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty alcohol.

22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty alcohol is FAR, CER4, or Maqu_2220.

23 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the fatty acid converting enzyme is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty aldehyde.

24 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein the fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty aldehyde is acr1.

25 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the fatty acid converting enzyme is a carboxylic acid reductase.

26 . The method according to any one of claims 20 - 25 , the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism further comprising an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a thioesterase.

27 . The method according to claim 26 , wherein the thioesterase is a tesA lacking a signal peptide, UcFatB or BTE.

28 . The method according to claim 26 or 27 , wherein endogenous thioesterase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous thioesterase activity.

29 . The method according to any one of claims 20 - 28 , the recombinant C 1 metabolizing microorganism further comprising an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding an acyl-CoA synthetase.

30 . The method according to claim 29 , wherein the acyl-CoA synthetase is FadD, yng1, or FAA2.

31 . The method according to claim 29 or 30 , wherein endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity.

32 . The method according to any one of claims 20 - 31 , further comprising a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a monooxygenase to produce ω-hydroxy fatty acid.

33 . The method according to claim 32 , wherein endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity.

34 . The method according to any one of claims 20 - 33 , wherein endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is increased or elevated as compared to unaltered endo

Assignees

• Calysta Inc

Inventors

• Fong Howard Lam Ho
• Grate John H
• Nguyen Luan
• Silverman Joshua A
• Newman Lisa Marie
• Giver Lorraine Joan
• Regitsky Drew D

Classifications

• C09K8/532

  Sulfur · CPC title

• C09K2208/20

  Hydrogen sulfide elimination · CPC title

• B01D2256/245

  Methane · CPC title

• B01D53/526

  Mixtures of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide · CPC title

• C10G32/00

  Refining of hydrocarbon oils by electric or magnetic means, by irradiation, or by using microorganisms · CPC title