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Schwarz I, Angelina A, Hambrock P, Weuster-Botz D. Simultaneous Formate and Syngas Conversion Boosts Growth and Product Formation by Clostridium ragsdalei. Molecules 2024; 29:2661. [PMID: 38893534 PMCID: PMC11174074 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO and formate can be coupled to gas fermentation with anaerobic microorganisms. In combination with a competing hydrogen evolution reaction in the cathode in aqueous medium, the in situ, electrocatalytic produced syngas components can be converted by an acetogenic bacterium, such as Clostridium ragsdalei, into acetate, ethanol, and 2,3-butanediol. In order to study the simultaneous conversion of CO, CO2, and formate together with H2 with C. ragsdalei, fed-batch processes were conducted with continuous gassing using a fully controlled stirred tank bioreactor. Formate was added continuously, and various initial CO partial pressures (pCO0) were applied. C. ragsdalei utilized CO as the favored substrate for growth and product formation, but below a partial pressure of 30 mbar CO in the bioreactor, a simultaneous CO2/H2 conversion was observed. Formate supplementation enabled 20-50% higher growth rates independent of the partial pressure of CO and improved the acetate and 2,3-butanediol production. Finally, the reaction conditions were identified, allowing the parallel CO, CO2, formate, and H2 consumption with C. ragsdalei at a limiting CO partial pressure below 30 mbar, pH 5.5, n = 1200 min-1, and T = 32 °C. Thus, improved carbon and electron conversion is possible to establish efficient and sustainable processes with acetogenic bacteria, as shown in the example of C. ragsdalei.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dirk Weuster-Botz
- Chair of Biochemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748 Garching, Germany; (I.S.)
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Lanzillo F, Pisacane S, Raganati F, Russo ME, Salatino P, Marzocchella A. Optimization of CO fermentation by Clostridium carboxidivorans in batch reactors: Effects of the medium composition. Anaerobe 2024; 87:102855. [PMID: 38614289 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of medium composition on CO fermentation by Clostridium carboxidivorans. The focus was to reduce the medium cost preserving acceptable levels of solvent production. METHODS Yeast extract (YE) concentration was set in the range of 0-3 g/L. Different reducing agents were investigated, including cysteine-HCl 0.6 g/L, pure cysteine 0.6 g/L, sodium sulphide (Na2S) 0.6 g/L, cysteine-sodium sulphide 0.6 g/L and cysteine-sodium sulphide 0.72 g/L. The concentration of the metal solution was decreased down to 25 % of the standard value. Fermentation tests were also carried out with and without tungsten or selenium. RESULTS The results demonstrated that under optimized conditions, namely yeast extract (YE) concentration set at 1 g/L, pure cysteine as the reducing agent and trace metal concentration reduced to 75 % of the standard value, reasonable solvent production was achieved in less than 150 h. Under these operating conditions, the production levels were found to be 1.39 g/L of ethanol and 0.27 g/L of butanol. Furthermore, the study revealed that selenium was not necessary for C. carboxidivorans fermentation, whereas the presence of tungsten played a crucial role in both cell growth and solvent production. CONCLUSIONS The optimization of the medium composition in CO fermentation by Clostridium carboxidivorans is crucial for cost-effective solvent production. Tuning the yeast extract (YE) concentration, using pure cysteine as the reducing agent and reducing trace metal concentration contribute to reasonable solvent production within a relatively short fermentation period. Tungsten is essential for cell growth and solvent production, while selenium is not required.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Lanzillo
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering-Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli Italy
| | - S Pisacane
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering-Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli Italy
| | - F Raganati
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering-Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli Italy.
| | - M E Russo
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie per l'Energia e la Mobilità Sostenibili - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli Italy
| | - P Salatino
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering-Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli Italy
| | - A Marzocchella
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering-Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli Italy
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Bellini R, Vasile NS, Bassani I, Vizzarro A, Coti C, Barbieri D, Scapolo M, Pirri CF, Verga F, Menin B. Investigating the activity of indigenous microbial communities from Italian depleted gas reservoirs and their possible impact on underground hydrogen storage. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1392410. [PMID: 38725680 PMCID: PMC11079786 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1392410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
H2 produced from renewable energies will play a central role in both greenhouse gas reduction and decarbonization by 2050. Nonetheless, to improve H2 diffusion and utilization as a fuel, large storage capacity systems are needed. Underground storage of natural gas in depleted reservoirs, aquifers and salt caverns is a well-established technology. However, new challenges arise when it comes to storing hydrogen due to the occurrence and activity of indigenous microbial populations in deep geological formations. In a previous study, four Italian natural gas reservoirs were characterized both from a hydro-chemical and microbiological point of view, and predictive functional analyses were carried out with the perspective of underground hydrogen storage (UHS). In the present work, formation waters from the same reservoirs were used as inoculant during batch cultivation tests to characterize microbial activity and its effects on different gas mixtures. Results evidence a predominant acidogenic/acetogenic activity, whilst methanogenic and sulfate reducing activity were only marginal for all tested inoculants. Furthermore, the microbial activation of tested samples is strongly influenced by nutrient availability. Obtained results were fitted and screened in a computational model which would allow deep insights in the study of microbial activity in the context of UHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruggero Bellini
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
| | - Nicolò Santi Vasile
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bassani
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
| | - Arianna Vizzarro
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Candido Fabrizio Pirri
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Verga
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Barbara Menin
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
- National Research Council, Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (CNR-IBBA), Milan, Italy
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Bäumler M, Burgmaier V, Herrmann F, Mentges J, Schneider M, Ehrenreich A, Liebl W, Weuster-Botz D. Continuous Production of Ethanol, 1-Butanol and 1-Hexanol from CO with a Synthetic Co-Culture of Clostridia Applying a Cascade of Stirred-Tank Bioreactors. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11041003. [PMID: 37110426 PMCID: PMC10144111 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11041003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Syngas fermentation with clostridial co-cultures is promising for the conversion of CO to alcohols. A CO sensitivity study with Clostridium kluyveri monocultures in batch operated stirred-tank bioreactors revealed total growth inhibition of C. kluyveri already at 100 mbar CO, but stable biomass concentrations and ongoing chain elongation at 800 mbar CO. On/off-gassing with CO indicated a reversible inhibition of C. kluyveri. A continuous supply of sulfide led to increased autotrophic growth and ethanol formation by Clostridium carboxidivorans even at unfavorable low CO concentrations. Based on these results, a continuously operated cascade of two stirred-tank reactors was established with a synthetic co-culture of both Clostridia. An amount of 100 mbar CO and additional sulfide supply enabled growth and chain elongation in the first bioreactor, whereas 800 mbar CO resulted in an efficient reduction of organic acids and de-novo synthesis of C2-C6 alcohols in the second reactor. High alcohol/acid ratios of 4.5-9.1 (w/w) were achieved in the steady state of the cascade process, and the space-time yields of the alcohols produced were improved by factors of 1.9-5.3 compared to a batch process. Further improvement of continuous production of medium chain alcohols from CO may be possible by applying less CO-sensitive chain-elongating bacteria in co-cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Bäumler
- Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Veronika Burgmaier
- Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Fabian Herrmann
- Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Julian Mentges
- Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Martina Schneider
- Chair of Microbiology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Armin Ehrenreich
- Chair of Microbiology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Liebl
- Chair of Microbiology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Dirk Weuster-Botz
- Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
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Lu J, Wang Y, Xu M, Fei Q, Gu Y, Luo Y, Wu H. Efficient biosynthesis of 3-hydroxypropionic acid from ethanol in metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 363:127907. [PMID: 36087655 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Engineering microbial cell factories to convert CO2-based feedstock into chemicals and fuels provide a feasible carbon-neutral route for the third-generation biorefineries. Ethanol became one of the major products of syngas fermentation by engineered acetogens. The key building block chemical 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) can be synthesized from ethanol by the malonyl-CoA pathway with CO2 fixation. In this study, the effect of two ethanol consumption pathways on 3-HP synthesis were studied as well as the effect of TCA cycle, gluconeogenesis pathway, and transhydrogenase. And the 3-HP synthesis pathway was also optimized. The engineered strain synthesized 1.66 g/L of 3-HP with a yield of 0.24 g/g. Furthermore, the titer and the yield of 3-HP increased to 13.17 g/L and 0.57 g/g in the whole-cell biocatalysis system. This study indicated that ethanol as feedstock had the potential to synthesize 3-HP, which provided an alternative route for future biorefinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juefeng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Mingcheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Qiang Fei
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Gu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Plant Carbon-Nitrogen Assimilation, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanchan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Hui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China; Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Engineering of China National Light Industry Council, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
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