SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING BIOFUELS AND RELATED MATERIALS

• US 20100151551A1
• Filed: 02/07/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University Of Massachusetts
• Original Assignee: University Of Massachusetts
• Inventors: Warnick, Thomas A., Leschine, Susan
• Application Number:
  US12/701,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20100151551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/165
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/205 Bacterial isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/26 Processes using, or culture media containing, hydrocarbons refining of hydrocarbon oils by using microorganisms C10G32/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/02 containing a hydroxy group
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/145 Clostridium
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

Clostridium phytofermentans cells (American Type Culture Collection 700394^T) and all other strains of the species can ferment materials such as biomass into useful products and coproducts, such as ethanol, hydrogen and organic acids. Compositions that include Clostridium phytofermentans are also disclosed.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method of making a fuel comprising:

a. combining Clostridium phytofermentans cells and a lignocellulosic material in a medium; and

b. fermenting the lignocellulosic material under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce a fuel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the lignocellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of wood, wood pulp, papermaking sludge, paper pulp waste streams, particle board, grasses, rice hulls, bagasse, cotton, jute, hemp, flax, bamboo, sisal, abaca, straw, corn cobs, corn stover, distillers grains, leaves, wheat straw, coconut hair, algae, switchgrass, Miscanthus, legume plants, sorghum, biomass crops (Crambe), and mixtures thereof.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the medium has dissolved therein constituents selected from the group consisting of growth factors, minerals, surfactants, chelating agents, and mixtures thereof.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein conditions include maintaining the medium at a temperature of less than about 45°

C.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein conditions include maintaining a pH of the medium below about 9.5.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the fuel is ethanol, and wherein conditions include maintaining a concentration of the ethanol lower than about 1 M.

40. The method of claim 13, wherein said medium comprises lignocellulosic material and wherein said Clostridium phytofermentans comprises from about 20 ABC-type transport proteins.

41. The method of claim 13, wherein said medium comprises a high concentration of 5-carbon sugars.

42. The method of claim 13, wherein said medium comprises cellulose concentrations of greater than 40 mM.

43. The method of claim 13, wherein said medium comprises a pretreated biomass.

44. The method of claim 13, wherein said medium comprises a hydrolyzed biomass.

19-39. -39. (canceled)

45. A method of making ethanol comprising:

a. combining Clostridium phytofermentans cells and a lignocellulosic material in a medium; and

b. fermenting the lignocellulosic material under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce ethanol.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the lignocellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of wood, wood pulp, papermaking sludge, paper pulp waste streams, particle board, grasses, rice hulls, bagasse, cotton, jute, hemp, flax, bamboo, sisal, abaca, straw, corn cobs, corn stover, distillers grains, leaves, wheat straw, coconut hair, algae, switchgrass, Miscanthus, legume plants, sorghum, biomass crops (Crambe), and mixtures thereof.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the medium has dissolved therein constituents selected from the group consisting of growth factors, minerals, surfactants, chelating agents, and mixtures thereof.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein conditions include maintaining the medium at a temperature of less than about 45°

C.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein conditions include maintaining a pH of the medium below about 9.5.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein said medium comprises lignocellulosic material and wherein said Clostridium phytofermentans comprises from about 20 ABC-type transport proteins.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein said medium comprises a high concentration of 5-carbon sugars.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein said medium comprises cellulose concentrations of greater than 40 mM.

53. The method of claim 45, wherein said medium comprises a pretreated biomass.

54. A method of making hydrogen comprising:

a. combining Clostridium phytofermentans cells and a lignocellulosic material in a medium; and

b. fermenting the lignocellulosic material under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce hydrogen.