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Title: A novel integrated biorefinery process for diesel fuel blendstock production using lipids from the methanotroph, Methylomicrobium buryatense

Abstract

In light of the availability of low-cost methane (CH4) derived from natural gas and biogas along with increasing concerns of the greenhouse gas emissions, the production of alternative liquid biofuels directly from CH4 is a promising approach to capturing wasted energy. A novel biorefinery concept integrating biological conversion of CH4 to microbial lipids together with lipid extraction and generation of hydrocarbon fuels is demonstrated in this study for the first time. An aerobic methanotrophic bacterium, Methylomicrobium buryatense capable of using CH4 as the sole carbon source was selected on the basis of genetic tractability, cultivation robustness, and ability to accumulate phospholipids in membranes. A maximum fatty acid content of 10% of dry cell weight was obtained in batch cultures grown in a continuous gas sparging fermentation system. Although phospholipids are not typically considered as a good feedstock for upgrading to hydrocarbon fuels, we set out to demonstrate that using a combination of novel lipid extraction methodology with advanced catalyst design, we could prove the feasibility of this approach. Up to 95% of the total fatty acids from membrane-bound phospholipids were recovered by a two-stage pretreatment method followed by hexane extraction of the aqueous hydrolysate. The upgrading of extracted lipids wasmore » then demonstrated in a hydrodeoxygeation process using palladium on silica as a catalyst. Lipid conversion in excess of 99% was achieved, with a full selectivity to hydrocarbons. Lastly, the final hydrocarbon mixture is dominated by 88% pentadecane (C15H32) based on decarbonylation/decarboxylation and hydrogenation of C16 fatty acids, indicating that a biological gas-to-liquid fuel (Bio-GTL) process is technically feasible.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
OSTI Identifier:
1392737
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1347277
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5100-65377
Journal ID: ISSN 0196-8904; S0196890417301863; PII: S0196890417301863
Grant/Contract Number:  
0670-5169; AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Energy Conversion and Management
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Energy Conversion and Management Journal Volume: 140 Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0196-8904
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; methahnotroph; fermentation; extraction; hydrotreating; biofuels; biorefinery

Citation Formats

Dong, Tao, Fei, Qiang, Genelot, Marie, Smith, Holly, Laurens, Lieve M. L., Watson, Michael J., and Pienkos, Philip T. A novel integrated biorefinery process for diesel fuel blendstock production using lipids from the methanotroph, Methylomicrobium buryatense. United Kingdom: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2017.02.075.
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Dong, Tao, Fei, Qiang, Genelot, Marie, Smith, Holly, Laurens, Lieve M. L., Watson, Michael J., & Pienkos, Philip T. A novel integrated biorefinery process for diesel fuel blendstock production using lipids from the methanotroph, Methylomicrobium buryatense. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.02.075
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Dong, Tao, Fei, Qiang, Genelot, Marie, Smith, Holly, Laurens, Lieve M. L., Watson, Michael J., and Pienkos, Philip T. Mon . "A novel integrated biorefinery process for diesel fuel blendstock production using lipids from the methanotroph, Methylomicrobium buryatense". United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.02.075.
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@article{osti_1392737,
title = {A novel integrated biorefinery process for diesel fuel blendstock production using lipids from the methanotroph, Methylomicrobium buryatense},
author = {Dong, Tao and Fei, Qiang and Genelot, Marie and Smith, Holly and Laurens, Lieve M. L. and Watson, Michael J. and Pienkos, Philip T.},
abstractNote = {In light of the availability of low-cost methane (CH4) derived from natural gas and biogas along with increasing concerns of the greenhouse gas emissions, the production of alternative liquid biofuels directly from CH4 is a promising approach to capturing wasted energy. A novel biorefinery concept integrating biological conversion of CH4 to microbial lipids together with lipid extraction and generation of hydrocarbon fuels is demonstrated in this study for the first time. An aerobic methanotrophic bacterium, Methylomicrobium buryatense capable of using CH4 as the sole carbon source was selected on the basis of genetic tractability, cultivation robustness, and ability to accumulate phospholipids in membranes. A maximum fatty acid content of 10% of dry cell weight was obtained in batch cultures grown in a continuous gas sparging fermentation system. Although phospholipids are not typically considered as a good feedstock for upgrading to hydrocarbon fuels, we set out to demonstrate that using a combination of novel lipid extraction methodology with advanced catalyst design, we could prove the feasibility of this approach. Up to 95% of the total fatty acids from membrane-bound phospholipids were recovered by a two-stage pretreatment method followed by hexane extraction of the aqueous hydrolysate. The upgrading of extracted lipids was then demonstrated in a hydrodeoxygeation process using palladium on silica as a catalyst. Lipid conversion in excess of 99% was achieved, with a full selectivity to hydrocarbons. Lastly, the final hydrocarbon mixture is dominated by 88% pentadecane (C15H32) based on decarbonylation/decarboxylation and hydrogenation of C16 fatty acids, indicating that a biological gas-to-liquid fuel (Bio-GTL) process is technically feasible.},
doi = {10.1016/j.enconman.2017.02.075},
journal = {Energy Conversion and Management},
number = C,
volume = 140,
place = {United Kingdom},
year = {Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.02.075
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Cited by: 32 works
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Works referencing / citing this record:

Biological conversion of methane to chemicals and fuels: technical challenges and issues
journal, February 2018

  • Hwang, In Yeub; Nguyen, Anh Duc; Nguyen, Thu Thi
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol. 102, Issue 7
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8842-7
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