Methods of Feedstock Conversion Using a Biofilm Bioreactor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024117286-A1
Application number	US-202318488446-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 17, 2023
Priority date	Feb 19, 2020
Publication date	Apr 11, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are biofilm bioreactors for synthesis at the interface between two liquids, and methods of using such bioreactors for the biotransformation of feedstocks into chemical products. Also contemplated is the extraction of such products.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of converting a hydrophobic feedstock into aqueous phase product, the method comprising:
providing a bioreactor comprising a living microorganism capable of producing a water-soluble product; circulating nutritive media through the bioreactor to establish a biofilm of the microorganism; introducing both an aqueous solution and a hydrophobic feedstock into the bioreactor, wherein the aqueous solution provides supplemental nutrients to the microorganism; allowing the microorganism to convert the hydrophobic feedstock into the product; and then recovering the product from the aqueous solution.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedstock is provided in the form of particles serving as substrates for growth of the microorganism.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the recovering the product involves use of a phase separator.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is provided in the form of a solid support coated in a lyophilized biofilm of the microorganism.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein electron transfer to or from a conductive solid support allows for increased productivity of the biofilm.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said bioreactor comprises:
a column comprising a substrate coated with a biofilm comprising hydrocarbonoclastic and/or oleaginous organisms; and a phase separator operably connected to receive said aqueous solution and said hydrophobic feedstock from the column.

7 . A method of converting an aqueous feedstock into hydrophobic product, the method comprising:
providing a bioreactor comprising a microorganism capable of producing a hydrophobic product; introducing a water-soluble feedstock into the bioreactor and allowing the microorganism to convert the feedstock into the hydrophobic product; contacting the microorganism with a solvent effective to extract the product; and then recovering the product from the solvent.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the water-soluble feedstock is provided in the form of particles serving as substrates for growth of the microorganism.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the recovering the product involves use of a phase separator.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the microorganism is provided in the form of a solid support coated in a lyophilized biofilm of the microorganism.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein electron transfer to or from a conductive solid support allows for increased productivity of the biofilm.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said bioreactor comprises:
a column comprising a substrate coated with a biofilm comprising hydrocarbonoclastic and/or oleaginous organisms; and a phase separator operably connected to the column.

Assignees

• Us Dept Of The Navy
• Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc

Inventors

• Glaven Sarah
• Onderko Elizabeth
• Maygar Andrew
• Yates Matthew

Classifications

• C02F3/108

  Immobilising gels, polymers or the like · CPC title

• C02F3/107

  Inorganic materials, e.g. sand, silicates · CPC title

• C02F3/101

  Arranged-type packing, e.g. stacks, arrays · CPC title

• C02F3/06

  using submerged filters · CPC title

• C02F3/344

  for digestion of mineral oil · CPC title