System-Level Optimization to Improve Biofuel Potential via Genetic Engineering and Hydrothermal Liquefaction

Dong, Tao; Wang, Bo; Xiong, Wei; Sweeney, Nicholas A.; Pienkos, Philip T.; Yu, Jianping

doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b06480

System-Level Optimization to Improve Biofuel Potential via Genetic Engineering and Hydrothermal Liquefaction

Journal Article · Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 2020 · ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b06480· OSTI ID:1601575

^[1]; ^[1]; Xiong, Wei ^[1]; Sweeney, Nicholas A. ^[1]; Pienkos, Philip T. ^[1]; Yu, Jianping ^[1]

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

The economic success of biofuels and bioproducts depends on system-level optimization including biomass production and conversion. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) can convert wet biomass such as microalgae into a biofuel intermediate (BFI) under elevated temperatures and pressure. An understanding of the impacts of biomass composition on BFI yield and quality can inform genetic engineering strategies in the improvement of biochemical composition for biofuel production. In this work, wild type cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 biomass was doped with various common cellular storage compounds in lab-scale HTL experiments. Doping with glycogen or polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) significantly reduced BFI yields, while doping with triglycerides (TAG) or medium chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) increased BFI yield and quality. In light of these observations, a genetically engineered Synechocystis strain deficient in glycogen biosynthesis was cultivated to produce biomass for HTL, leading to a 17% increase in BFI yield. In addition, we built a multiphase component additivity (MCA) model that can predict BFI yield and quality with PHAs in the biomass. This work demonstrates an effective strategy to integrate strain development with downstream biomass conversion to maximize biofuel yield, with lessons applicable to microalgae as well as other biomass.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Bioenergy Technologies Office (EE-3B)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1601575

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5100-74835

Journal Information:: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Name: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 8; ISSN 2168-0485

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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