Overcoming the energetic limitations of syngas fermentation. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Molitor, Bastian; Marcellin, Esteban; Angenent, Largus T
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in chemical biology. Volume 41(2017)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Bioorganic chemistry -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Clinical biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Chimie bio-organique -- Périodiques; Biologie -- Périodiques; 572.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.10.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-5931

Abstract

Highlights: Syngas fermentation offers great potential to produce commodity chemicals and fuels. Energy availability limits the generation of certain products. Progress in several research areas must overcome energetic limitations. The areas consist of process optimization, molecular biology and metabolic modeling. Abstract : The fermentation of synthesis gas (including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen) with anaerobic acetogens is an established biotechnological process that has recently been transferred to a commercial scale. The natural product spectrum of acetogens is natively restricted to acetate, ethanol, and 2, 3-butanediol but is rapidly expanding to heterologous products. Syngas fermentation can achieve high carbon-efficiencies; however, the underlying metabolism is operating at a thermodynamic limit. This necessitates special enzymatic properties for energy conservation by acetogens. Therefore, the availability of cellular energy is considered to restrain the efficient production of energy-intense products with complex production pathways. The optimization of the feed-gas composition and other process parameters, genetic engineering, and integration with other biotechnologies is required to overcome this limitation.