CA2255212A1 - Method of producing bio-mass - Google Patents
Method of producing bio-mass Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2255212A1 CA2255212A1 CA 2255212 CA2255212A CA2255212A1 CA 2255212 A1 CA2255212 A1 CA 2255212A1 CA 2255212 CA2255212 CA 2255212 CA 2255212 A CA2255212 A CA 2255212A CA 2255212 A1 CA2255212 A1 CA 2255212A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- bacteria
- bio
- alcaligenes
- mass
- autotrophic
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Landscapes
- Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
- Polyesters Or Polycarbonates (AREA)
Abstract
A bio-mass product useful for livestock feed or glue is produced from autotrophic bacteria of the genus Alcaligenes, in particular A. carboxydus, according to a process wherein the bacteria is grown autotrophically in an environment of CO or CO2, and H2 and O2.
Description
t CA 022~212 1998-12-03 METHOD OF PRODUCING BIO-MASS
Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of production of bio-mass from bacteria, and in particular, producing A. carboxydus or another species of the genus Alcaligenes to produce a livestock l'eed or glue product. The bacteria is grown this autotrophically in an environment of CO or CO~, H2 and ~2 Back~round of the Invention Bacteria species of the genus Alcaligenes can be either chemorganoheterotrophs (also referred to as heterotrophs or organotrophs, obtaining their energy, electrons and carbon from organic matter) or facultative chemolithoautotrophs (also referred to as facultative chemoautotrophs or l'acultative chemolithotrophs). These organi~m~ are referred to as facultative since they can grow as chemolithoautotrophs or chemoorganoheterotrophs. The chemolithoautotrophs can obtain their energy and electrons from simple inorganic molecules (eg.
H2, NH4, NO2, H2S) and their carbon from CO2 or CO. Chemolithoautotrophs that can obtain their energy and electrons from hydrogen and their carbon from CO2 or CO are termed hydrogen 20 oxidizing bacteria, hydrogentrophs or just hydrogen bacteria (Brock 1994). Although anaerobic forms exist, aerobic forms of hydrogen bacteria are more prevalent and are capable of growing in an atmosphere of CO2, H2, ~2 Examples of hydrogentrophs can be found in the bacterial genera Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas and Bacillus. Examples of species found in the genus Alcaligenes include: A. carboxydus, A. hydrogenphilus, A. eutrophus and A. ruhlandii. Since, H2 has a 25 relatively high negative reduction potential, the electrons generated from it can be used to reduce NAD+ to NADH without the need for Adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP, chemical energy). Some hydrogen bacteria of the genus Alcaligenes are capable of converting NADH to NADPH which CA 022~212 1998-12-03 can then be used along with ATP and CO2 in the Calvin Benson Cycle to produce carbohydrate.
Other hydrogen bacteria of the genus Alcaligenes do not need NADPH and can use NADH as an electron donor in the Calvin Benson cycle rather than NADPH (Schlegel and Bowien 1989). The electrons generated from the oxidation of H2 can also be used to generate ATP by entering the 5 electron transport chain and driving ATP synthesis.
Some hydrogen bacteria can also grow using carbon monoxide as an energy source, with electrons from the oxidation of CO to CO2 entering the electron transport chain and driving ATP synthesis. These hydrogen bacteria, such as A. carboxydus, are referred to as 10 carboxydotrophic bacteria and are usually facultative, growing in an environment of CO and ~2~
or as a hydrogentroph in an environment of CO2, H2, and ~2 or as an organotroph using organic substrates for growth (for review see Meyer and Schlegel 1983). Carboxydotrophic bacteria include aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Under anaerobic conditions, CO is oxidized by specific phototrophic bacteria, methanogens and sulf'ate-reducers. Interestingly, releases of CO have been 15 quite significant in recent years due to incomplete combustion of fossil fuels from factories and automobiles and the burning of forests; however, measurement of CO levels in air have shown that they have not risen significantly over many years. It is thought that the aerobic soil carboxydotrophs, such as, A. carboxydus, P. carboxydovorans and B. schelgellii provide a natural sink for atmospheric CO (Brock 1994).
Recently, a promising application of Alcaligenes spp. has been developed for theproduction of biodegradable polyesters, compounds that have properties similar to that of polypropylene or plastic. These compounds are produced by the bacterium as a storage polymer and are collectively referred to as polyhydroxyalkonates (PHAs). They accumulate in the 25 bacterium when the carbon source is relatively high and at least one essential nutrient such as phosphorus or nitrogen is deficient (Anderson and Dawes 1990). These 'bacterial produced CA 022~212 1998-12-03 _ .~
compounds' may be superior to plastics because they are biodegradable and they are not derived from fossil fuels (Tanaka and T.~hi7~ki 1994).
There are various types of PHAs but the most widely studied are polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and the homopolymer poly3-hydroxybutyrate P(3HB) (Doi 1990;
Nakamura et al. 1992; Yagi et al. 1996). Disadvantages ofthese compounds, as compared with plastics, include that they produce a stiff and brittle product rather than a flexible one and have a high melting point which causes difficulties in processing. Researchers have addressed these disadvantages by combining different PHAs to produce copolymers. One of the first industrial 10 products of a PHA occurred in 1982 when ICITM marketed a copolymer. One of the first industrial productions of a PHA occurred in 1982 when ICI marketed a copolymer consisting of P(3HB) and 3 hydroxy-valerate (3HV), P(3HB-co-3HV), under the name BiopolTM from large scale fed batch fermentation (Holmes 1985; Byrom 1987). Other copolymers as well as a modification of BiopolTM have been produced (Nadamur et al. 1992; Doi et al. 1988). These are known to have 15 a variety of potential applications (Holmes 1985). The properties of the product can be altered by changing properties of the culture medium including pH (Yeom and Yoo 1995) and use of different carbon sources (Nakamura et al. 1992). Most researchers have produced PHA
copolymers by growing Alcaligenes spp. as chemorganoheterotrophs; however, a few have been successlùl growing Alcaligenes spp. as chemolithoautotrophs. In one study, A. eutrophus ATCC
20 17697T was grown in an environment of CO2, H2 and O2 (Tanaka and Ishizaki 1994) and in another study, a genetically engineered Pseudomonas acidophila containing an autotrophic coding plasmid from A. Hydrogenphilus was grown in a similar environment (Yagi et al. 1996). Both of these studies have argued that the use of bacterial autotrophy rather than heterotrophy, that is, obtaining their carbon from inorganic compounds rather than from organic carbon forms, for the production 25 of plastics may contribute to reducing the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and thus alleviate the threat of global warming.
CA 022~212 1998-12-03 Most studies have concentrated on Alcaligenes spp. for the production biodegradable plastics. Several patents report use of polysaccharide derived from heterotrophic Alcaligenes as an emulsifier or glue (see for example, patent PCT application No.s 90-232836 to Kurane et al, 87-073811 to Peik et al, and 85-189797 to Peik et al). However, using the genus 5 Alcaligenes, and in particular autotrophic Alcaligenes as a source of livestock feed or glue is nowhere taught nor suggested.
Genetic engineering has been helpful for developing new copolymers of PHAs in autotrophic bacteria. For example, the cloning of the region on a plasmid found in A.
10 hydrogenophilus made it possible to transfer this region of this plasmid into the PHA copolymer producing bacterium Pseudomonas acidophila (Yagi et al. 1996). Genes coding for the production of plastics in Alcaligenes bacteria have not only been transferred to other bacteria (Yagi et al.
l 996) but have also been transferred to plants with successful production of PHB (Poirer et al.
1992).
Methods for cultivating chemolithoautotrophic hydrogen bacteria such as A.
eutrophus have been widely described (Meyer and Schlegel 1983; Tanaka and Ishi7~ki 1994; Yagi et al. 1996). Tanaka and Ishizaki (1994) used a gas concentration of H2:O2:CO2 = 86.5: 4.9: 9.8.
The use of such a low concentration was to avoid the occurrence of an explosion in the bioreactor.
20 A concentration of less than 6.9% v/v O2 is necessary to avoid an explosion. It is however reported that PHB production is minim~l if O2 concentration is maintained below 6.9% (v/v) (Tanaka Ishizaki). Yagi et al. (1996) used an atmospheric concentration of 80% H2,10% ~2~ and 10% CO2.
Both studies used a mineral medium. There are many variations of the mineral medium depending on the production requirements in the particular study. An example of the ingredients 25 in the mineral salts medium has been presented by Marchessault and Sheppard (1997).
CA 022~212 1998-12-03 A commonly used strain of Alcaligenes eutrophus, ATCC 17697, was grown by Tanaka and Ishizaki (1994) under chemolithoautotrophic conditions. This organism can be ordered from the American Type Culture Collection of Rockville, MD, USA.
A patent search located the following patents, listed by their PCT application numbers: 97-023160, 94-02322, 92-099666, 90-232836, 87-304250, 87-073811, 85-189797).
These patents focused on the heterotrophic growth of Alcaligenes spp. for producing either a product used as a poultry feed, as a poultry feed supplement, as an emulsifying agent or as a glue or binding agent. None of the located patents used autotrophic Alcaligenes spp. to produce glue or binders7 livestock feed, or livestock feed supplements. It is an object of the present invention to do so.
Summary of the Invention The present invention is a bio-mass product useful for livestock feed or glue, and the process for producing the bio-mass, wherein the process of producing such bio-mass includes the steps of:
(a) placing bacteria, wherein the bacteria are chemolithoautotrophs or autotrophic bacteria, into a suitable medium under appropriate environmental conditions adapted to promote conversion of inorganic carbon oxygen compounds, that is, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide by the bacteria into poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers, (b) supplying the inorganic carbon oxygen compound to the bacteria in the medium, CA 022~212 1998-12-03 (c) continuing supplying inorganic carbon oxygen compound to the bacteria in the medium so as to cause polymerization of the poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers and so as to form the bio-mass, (d) harvesting the bio-mass from the medium.
Advantageously, the medium is a liquid and the inorganic carbon oxygen compound is either or both of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. Further advantageously, the bacteria are hydrogentrophs. In a preferred embodiment the bacteria are of the genera Alcaligenes, 10 for example Alcaligenes carboxydus7 hydrogenphilus, entrophus or ruhlandii. In one embodiment the harvesting of the bio-mass is done by allowing the PHB or its copolymers to settle out of the fluid medium. For feed and glue applications harvesting includes removing the bacteria as a whole.
15 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Some strains of bacteria from the Alcaligenes genera, including Alcaligenes carboxydus, are chemolithoautotrophs and thus can live on carbon dioxide, that is, they obtain their carbon from carbon dioxide rather than, for example, organic carbohydrates as is the case 20 with heterotrophs. These strains of bacteria may be employed to produce a bio-mass which may be used as a food source, for example, as animal l'eed stock. The bio-mass may also be used as a binder or glue.
The process of bio-mass production includes placing chemolithoautotrophic or 25 autotrophic bacteria such as A. carboxydus in a liquid medium. In one embodiment, the bacteria is then l'ed carbon dioxide until the PHB or its copolymers which forms within the cells polymerizes. In another embodiment the bacteria is fed carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.
CA 022~212 1998-12-03 Herein, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are generically referred to as inorganic carbon oxygen compounds. The resulting bio-mass then settles out of the liquid medium and may be harvested. A person skilled in the art would know the appropriate conditions for growing autotrophic bacteria. The method of harvesting PHB from such bacteria in the present invention 5 may include not separating the PHB from the bacteria as has been a concern in the prior art.
Instead, applicant has determined that for use as livestock feed, binder or glue, the bacteria as a whole, that is, which contains the PHB or its copolymers, is harvested. In the case of livestock feed, the bacteria as a whole is used, for example, and without intending to be limiting, as a slurry or dried feed supplement. In addition, this process of providing the whole bacteria cont~ining the 10 PHBs, may provide a source of protein, being the cellular walls, to further supplement the feed.
It is one of the advantages of using autotrophic Alcaligenes according the present invention that food, albeit animal feed stock, can be produced from abundant simple inorganic compounds, such as CO2 or CO which in the present environment are overly abundant. This also 15 introduces cost of production benefits potentially lowering the end cost of producing human food.
That is, reduction in the cost of animal feed may reduce the cost of raising livestock, and those cost savings potentially passed on to consumers. In addition, the cost of separating the PHB from the bacteria may be saved.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of production of bio-mass from bacteria, and in particular, producing A. carboxydus or another species of the genus Alcaligenes to produce a livestock l'eed or glue product. The bacteria is grown this autotrophically in an environment of CO or CO~, H2 and ~2 Back~round of the Invention Bacteria species of the genus Alcaligenes can be either chemorganoheterotrophs (also referred to as heterotrophs or organotrophs, obtaining their energy, electrons and carbon from organic matter) or facultative chemolithoautotrophs (also referred to as facultative chemoautotrophs or l'acultative chemolithotrophs). These organi~m~ are referred to as facultative since they can grow as chemolithoautotrophs or chemoorganoheterotrophs. The chemolithoautotrophs can obtain their energy and electrons from simple inorganic molecules (eg.
H2, NH4, NO2, H2S) and their carbon from CO2 or CO. Chemolithoautotrophs that can obtain their energy and electrons from hydrogen and their carbon from CO2 or CO are termed hydrogen 20 oxidizing bacteria, hydrogentrophs or just hydrogen bacteria (Brock 1994). Although anaerobic forms exist, aerobic forms of hydrogen bacteria are more prevalent and are capable of growing in an atmosphere of CO2, H2, ~2 Examples of hydrogentrophs can be found in the bacterial genera Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas and Bacillus. Examples of species found in the genus Alcaligenes include: A. carboxydus, A. hydrogenphilus, A. eutrophus and A. ruhlandii. Since, H2 has a 25 relatively high negative reduction potential, the electrons generated from it can be used to reduce NAD+ to NADH without the need for Adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP, chemical energy). Some hydrogen bacteria of the genus Alcaligenes are capable of converting NADH to NADPH which CA 022~212 1998-12-03 can then be used along with ATP and CO2 in the Calvin Benson Cycle to produce carbohydrate.
Other hydrogen bacteria of the genus Alcaligenes do not need NADPH and can use NADH as an electron donor in the Calvin Benson cycle rather than NADPH (Schlegel and Bowien 1989). The electrons generated from the oxidation of H2 can also be used to generate ATP by entering the 5 electron transport chain and driving ATP synthesis.
Some hydrogen bacteria can also grow using carbon monoxide as an energy source, with electrons from the oxidation of CO to CO2 entering the electron transport chain and driving ATP synthesis. These hydrogen bacteria, such as A. carboxydus, are referred to as 10 carboxydotrophic bacteria and are usually facultative, growing in an environment of CO and ~2~
or as a hydrogentroph in an environment of CO2, H2, and ~2 or as an organotroph using organic substrates for growth (for review see Meyer and Schlegel 1983). Carboxydotrophic bacteria include aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Under anaerobic conditions, CO is oxidized by specific phototrophic bacteria, methanogens and sulf'ate-reducers. Interestingly, releases of CO have been 15 quite significant in recent years due to incomplete combustion of fossil fuels from factories and automobiles and the burning of forests; however, measurement of CO levels in air have shown that they have not risen significantly over many years. It is thought that the aerobic soil carboxydotrophs, such as, A. carboxydus, P. carboxydovorans and B. schelgellii provide a natural sink for atmospheric CO (Brock 1994).
Recently, a promising application of Alcaligenes spp. has been developed for theproduction of biodegradable polyesters, compounds that have properties similar to that of polypropylene or plastic. These compounds are produced by the bacterium as a storage polymer and are collectively referred to as polyhydroxyalkonates (PHAs). They accumulate in the 25 bacterium when the carbon source is relatively high and at least one essential nutrient such as phosphorus or nitrogen is deficient (Anderson and Dawes 1990). These 'bacterial produced CA 022~212 1998-12-03 _ .~
compounds' may be superior to plastics because they are biodegradable and they are not derived from fossil fuels (Tanaka and T.~hi7~ki 1994).
There are various types of PHAs but the most widely studied are polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and the homopolymer poly3-hydroxybutyrate P(3HB) (Doi 1990;
Nakamura et al. 1992; Yagi et al. 1996). Disadvantages ofthese compounds, as compared with plastics, include that they produce a stiff and brittle product rather than a flexible one and have a high melting point which causes difficulties in processing. Researchers have addressed these disadvantages by combining different PHAs to produce copolymers. One of the first industrial 10 products of a PHA occurred in 1982 when ICITM marketed a copolymer. One of the first industrial productions of a PHA occurred in 1982 when ICI marketed a copolymer consisting of P(3HB) and 3 hydroxy-valerate (3HV), P(3HB-co-3HV), under the name BiopolTM from large scale fed batch fermentation (Holmes 1985; Byrom 1987). Other copolymers as well as a modification of BiopolTM have been produced (Nadamur et al. 1992; Doi et al. 1988). These are known to have 15 a variety of potential applications (Holmes 1985). The properties of the product can be altered by changing properties of the culture medium including pH (Yeom and Yoo 1995) and use of different carbon sources (Nakamura et al. 1992). Most researchers have produced PHA
copolymers by growing Alcaligenes spp. as chemorganoheterotrophs; however, a few have been successlùl growing Alcaligenes spp. as chemolithoautotrophs. In one study, A. eutrophus ATCC
20 17697T was grown in an environment of CO2, H2 and O2 (Tanaka and Ishizaki 1994) and in another study, a genetically engineered Pseudomonas acidophila containing an autotrophic coding plasmid from A. Hydrogenphilus was grown in a similar environment (Yagi et al. 1996). Both of these studies have argued that the use of bacterial autotrophy rather than heterotrophy, that is, obtaining their carbon from inorganic compounds rather than from organic carbon forms, for the production 25 of plastics may contribute to reducing the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and thus alleviate the threat of global warming.
CA 022~212 1998-12-03 Most studies have concentrated on Alcaligenes spp. for the production biodegradable plastics. Several patents report use of polysaccharide derived from heterotrophic Alcaligenes as an emulsifier or glue (see for example, patent PCT application No.s 90-232836 to Kurane et al, 87-073811 to Peik et al, and 85-189797 to Peik et al). However, using the genus 5 Alcaligenes, and in particular autotrophic Alcaligenes as a source of livestock feed or glue is nowhere taught nor suggested.
Genetic engineering has been helpful for developing new copolymers of PHAs in autotrophic bacteria. For example, the cloning of the region on a plasmid found in A.
10 hydrogenophilus made it possible to transfer this region of this plasmid into the PHA copolymer producing bacterium Pseudomonas acidophila (Yagi et al. 1996). Genes coding for the production of plastics in Alcaligenes bacteria have not only been transferred to other bacteria (Yagi et al.
l 996) but have also been transferred to plants with successful production of PHB (Poirer et al.
1992).
Methods for cultivating chemolithoautotrophic hydrogen bacteria such as A.
eutrophus have been widely described (Meyer and Schlegel 1983; Tanaka and Ishi7~ki 1994; Yagi et al. 1996). Tanaka and Ishizaki (1994) used a gas concentration of H2:O2:CO2 = 86.5: 4.9: 9.8.
The use of such a low concentration was to avoid the occurrence of an explosion in the bioreactor.
20 A concentration of less than 6.9% v/v O2 is necessary to avoid an explosion. It is however reported that PHB production is minim~l if O2 concentration is maintained below 6.9% (v/v) (Tanaka Ishizaki). Yagi et al. (1996) used an atmospheric concentration of 80% H2,10% ~2~ and 10% CO2.
Both studies used a mineral medium. There are many variations of the mineral medium depending on the production requirements in the particular study. An example of the ingredients 25 in the mineral salts medium has been presented by Marchessault and Sheppard (1997).
CA 022~212 1998-12-03 A commonly used strain of Alcaligenes eutrophus, ATCC 17697, was grown by Tanaka and Ishizaki (1994) under chemolithoautotrophic conditions. This organism can be ordered from the American Type Culture Collection of Rockville, MD, USA.
A patent search located the following patents, listed by their PCT application numbers: 97-023160, 94-02322, 92-099666, 90-232836, 87-304250, 87-073811, 85-189797).
These patents focused on the heterotrophic growth of Alcaligenes spp. for producing either a product used as a poultry feed, as a poultry feed supplement, as an emulsifying agent or as a glue or binding agent. None of the located patents used autotrophic Alcaligenes spp. to produce glue or binders7 livestock feed, or livestock feed supplements. It is an object of the present invention to do so.
Summary of the Invention The present invention is a bio-mass product useful for livestock feed or glue, and the process for producing the bio-mass, wherein the process of producing such bio-mass includes the steps of:
(a) placing bacteria, wherein the bacteria are chemolithoautotrophs or autotrophic bacteria, into a suitable medium under appropriate environmental conditions adapted to promote conversion of inorganic carbon oxygen compounds, that is, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide by the bacteria into poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers, (b) supplying the inorganic carbon oxygen compound to the bacteria in the medium, CA 022~212 1998-12-03 (c) continuing supplying inorganic carbon oxygen compound to the bacteria in the medium so as to cause polymerization of the poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers and so as to form the bio-mass, (d) harvesting the bio-mass from the medium.
Advantageously, the medium is a liquid and the inorganic carbon oxygen compound is either or both of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. Further advantageously, the bacteria are hydrogentrophs. In a preferred embodiment the bacteria are of the genera Alcaligenes, 10 for example Alcaligenes carboxydus7 hydrogenphilus, entrophus or ruhlandii. In one embodiment the harvesting of the bio-mass is done by allowing the PHB or its copolymers to settle out of the fluid medium. For feed and glue applications harvesting includes removing the bacteria as a whole.
15 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Some strains of bacteria from the Alcaligenes genera, including Alcaligenes carboxydus, are chemolithoautotrophs and thus can live on carbon dioxide, that is, they obtain their carbon from carbon dioxide rather than, for example, organic carbohydrates as is the case 20 with heterotrophs. These strains of bacteria may be employed to produce a bio-mass which may be used as a food source, for example, as animal l'eed stock. The bio-mass may also be used as a binder or glue.
The process of bio-mass production includes placing chemolithoautotrophic or 25 autotrophic bacteria such as A. carboxydus in a liquid medium. In one embodiment, the bacteria is then l'ed carbon dioxide until the PHB or its copolymers which forms within the cells polymerizes. In another embodiment the bacteria is fed carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.
CA 022~212 1998-12-03 Herein, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are generically referred to as inorganic carbon oxygen compounds. The resulting bio-mass then settles out of the liquid medium and may be harvested. A person skilled in the art would know the appropriate conditions for growing autotrophic bacteria. The method of harvesting PHB from such bacteria in the present invention 5 may include not separating the PHB from the bacteria as has been a concern in the prior art.
Instead, applicant has determined that for use as livestock feed, binder or glue, the bacteria as a whole, that is, which contains the PHB or its copolymers, is harvested. In the case of livestock feed, the bacteria as a whole is used, for example, and without intending to be limiting, as a slurry or dried feed supplement. In addition, this process of providing the whole bacteria cont~ining the 10 PHBs, may provide a source of protein, being the cellular walls, to further supplement the feed.
It is one of the advantages of using autotrophic Alcaligenes according the present invention that food, albeit animal feed stock, can be produced from abundant simple inorganic compounds, such as CO2 or CO which in the present environment are overly abundant. This also 15 introduces cost of production benefits potentially lowering the end cost of producing human food.
That is, reduction in the cost of animal feed may reduce the cost of raising livestock, and those cost savings potentially passed on to consumers. In addition, the cost of separating the PHB from the bacteria may be saved.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
Claims (15)
1. The process of producing bio-mass for use as livestock feed or binder or glue from bacteria comprising the steps of:
(a) placing autotrophic bacteria into a suitable medium under appropriateenvironmental conditions adapted to promote conversion of inorganic carbon oxygen compounds by said bacteria into poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers, (b) supplying said inorganic carbon oxygen compound to said bacteria in said medium, (c) continuing supplying said inorganic carbon oxygen compound to said bacteria so as to cause polymerization of said poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers and so as to form said bio-mass, (d) harvesting said bio-mass from said medium.
(a) placing autotrophic bacteria into a suitable medium under appropriateenvironmental conditions adapted to promote conversion of inorganic carbon oxygen compounds by said bacteria into poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers, (b) supplying said inorganic carbon oxygen compound to said bacteria in said medium, (c) continuing supplying said inorganic carbon oxygen compound to said bacteria so as to cause polymerization of said poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers and so as to form said bio-mass, (d) harvesting said bio-mass from said medium.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein said inorganic carbon oxygen compound is carbon dioxide.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein said inorganic carbon oxygen compound is carbon monoxide.
4. The process of claims 2 or 3 wherein said medium is a liquid and said bacteria are hydrogentrophs .
5. The process of claims 2 or 3 wherein said medium is a liquid and said bacteria are autotrophic Alcaligenes.
6. The process of claim 5 wherein said bacteria are autotrophic Alcaligenes carboxydus.
7. The process of claim 5 wherein said bacteria are autotrophic Alcaligenes hydrogenphilus.
8. The process of claim 5 wherein said bacteria are autotrophic Alcaligenes eutrophus.
9. The process of claim 5 wherein said bacteria are autotrophic Alcaligenes ruhlandii.
10. The process of claim 1 wherein said harvesting of said bio-mass includes harvesting said bacteria as a whole without separating said poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers from said bacteria following said polymerization.
11. A bio-mass product produced by supplying said inorganic carbon oxygen compound to autotrophic bacteria according to the process of claim 1.
12. The bio-mass product of claim 11 wherein said inorganic carbon oxygen compound is carbon dioxide.
13. The bio-mass product of claim 11 wherein said inorganic carbon oxygen compound is carbon monoxide.
14. The bio-mass product of claims 12 or 13 wherein said medium is a liquid and said bacteria are hydrogentrophs.
15. The bio-mass product of claims 12 or 13 wherein said medium is a liquid and said bacteria are Alcaligenes.
The bio-mass product of claim 15 wherein said bacteria are Alcaligenes carboxydus.
The bio-mass product of claim 15 wherein said bacteria are Alcaligenes hydrogenphilus.
The bio-mass product of claim 15 wherein said bacteria are Alcaligenes eutrophus.
The bio-mass product of claim 15 wherein said bacteria are Alcaligenes ruhlandii.
The bio-mass product of claim 11 wherein said bio-mass includes said bacteria as a whole without separating said poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers from said bacteria following said polymerization.
The bio-mass product of claim 15 wherein said bacteria are Alcaligenes carboxydus.
The bio-mass product of claim 15 wherein said bacteria are Alcaligenes hydrogenphilus.
The bio-mass product of claim 15 wherein said bacteria are Alcaligenes eutrophus.
The bio-mass product of claim 15 wherein said bacteria are Alcaligenes ruhlandii.
The bio-mass product of claim 11 wherein said bio-mass includes said bacteria as a whole without separating said poly-hydroxy-butyrate or its copolymers from said bacteria following said polymerization.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US6740497P | 1997-12-03 | 1997-12-03 | |
| US60/067,404 | 1997-12-03 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2255212A1 true CA2255212A1 (en) | 1999-06-03 |
Family
ID=29547878
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2255212 Abandoned CA2255212A1 (en) | 1997-12-03 | 1998-12-03 | Method of producing bio-mass |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2255212A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11203738B2 (en) | 2017-02-03 | 2021-12-21 | Kiverdi, Inc. | Microbial conversion of CO2 and other C1 substrates to protein and meat substitute products |
| US20220145337A1 (en) * | 2008-11-06 | 2022-05-12 | Kiverdi, Inc. | Biological and Chemical Process Utilizing Chemoautotrophic Microorganisms for the Chemosynthetic Fixation of Carbon Dioxide and/or Other Inorganic Carbon Sources into Organic Compounds and the Generation of Additional Useful Products |
| US11725290B2 (en) | 2016-03-19 | 2023-08-15 | Kiverdi, Inc. | Microorganisms and artificial ecosystems for the production of protein, food, and useful co-products from C1 substrates |
-
1998
- 1998-12-03 CA CA 2255212 patent/CA2255212A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20220145337A1 (en) * | 2008-11-06 | 2022-05-12 | Kiverdi, Inc. | Biological and Chemical Process Utilizing Chemoautotrophic Microorganisms for the Chemosynthetic Fixation of Carbon Dioxide and/or Other Inorganic Carbon Sources into Organic Compounds and the Generation of Additional Useful Products |
| US11725290B2 (en) | 2016-03-19 | 2023-08-15 | Kiverdi, Inc. | Microorganisms and artificial ecosystems for the production of protein, food, and useful co-products from C1 substrates |
| US11203738B2 (en) | 2017-02-03 | 2021-12-21 | Kiverdi, Inc. | Microbial conversion of CO2 and other C1 substrates to protein and meat substitute products |
| US11466246B2 (en) | 2017-02-03 | 2022-10-11 | Kiverdi, Inc. | Microbial conversion of CO2 and other C1 substrates to vegan nutrients, fertilizers, biostimulants, and systems for accelerated soil carbon sequestration |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Kumar et al. | Extending the limits of Bacillus for novel biotechnological applications | |
| Plugge et al. | Gelria glutamica gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermophilic, obligately syntrophic, glutamate-degrading anaerobe. | |
| EP0373230A1 (en) | Process for the microbiological preparation of 1,3-propane-diol from glycerol | |
| Carlozzi et al. | Effects of pH, temperature and salinity on P3HB synthesis culturing the marine Rhodovulum sulfidophilum DSM-1374 | |
| Jang et al. | Effect of levulinic acid on cell growth and poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate production by Alcaligenes sp. SH-69 | |
| Tanaka et al. | Production of poly-D-3-hydroxybutyric acid from carbon dioxide by a two-stage culture method employing Alcaligenes eutrophus ATCC 17697T | |
| Ljungdahl et al. | Acetogenic and acid-producing clostridia | |
| EP0088602A3 (en) | Microbiological oxidation process | |
| KR970065723A (en) | Preparation of L-aspartic Acid | |
| CA2255212A1 (en) | Method of producing bio-mass | |
| US5346817A (en) | Method for producing a microbial polyester | |
| Schloe et al. | Polyphasic characterization of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (P (HB-co-HV)) metabolizing and denitrifying Acidovorax sp. strains | |
| Kaneko et al. | Symbiotic formation of alginate lyase in mixed culture of bacteria isolated from soil | |
| JPH01304891A (en) | Production of polyester copolymer | |
| Gayathiri et al. | Production, optimization and characterization of polyhydroxybutryate by Bacillus subtilis isolated from garden soil | |
| JPS5860992A (en) | Preparation of hydrogen from green alga utilizing light and darkness cycle | |
| JP3882961B2 (en) | Microorganisms producing sucrose fatty acid ester synthase | |
| Karayiannis et al. | Acetone as a substrate for poly-β-hydroxybutyrate production by phototrophic purple bacteria | |
| JP2005211042A (en) | Method for producing fumaric acid | |
| Lee et al. | Production of Poly ($\beta $-hydroxybutyrate-co-$\beta $-hydroxyvalerate) by Two-stage Fed-batch Fermentation of Alcaligenes eutrophus | |
| JP2003180391A (en) | METHOD FOR PRODUCING epsilon-POLY-L-LYSINE | |
| Kensy | Microbial Processes: Current Developments in Gas Fermentation | |
| KR920018214A (en) | Microbiological preparation of 6-hydroxypicolinic acid | |
| JP3173176B2 (en) | Method for producing S (+)-citramalic acid | |
| Tsurumi et al. | Characteristics and propionate production of Propionibacterium isolated from a methane fermentation digester |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |