COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING PHOTOSYNTHETIC EFFICIENCY, GROWTH AND/OR LIPID PRODUCTION OF MICROORGANISMS

• US 20200131469A1
• Filed: 12/12/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Morgan State University
• Original Assignee: Morgan State University
• Inventors: Sitther, Viji, Fathabad, Somayeh
• Application Number:
  US16/712,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20200131469A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/02 essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0476 Biodiesel, i.e. defined lower alkyl esters of fatty acids first generation biodiesel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/26 Composting, fermenting or anaerobic digestion fuel components or materials from which fuels are prepared
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/20 Bacteria; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/38 Chemical stimulation of growth or activity by addition of chemical compounds which are not essential growth factors; Stimulation of growth by removal of a chemical compound C12N1/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6463 obtained from glyceride producing microorganisms, e.g. single cell oil
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/649 Biodiesel, i.e. fatty acid alkyl esters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

Compositions including metal nano- and/or micro-particles in solution with photosynthetic bioproduct producing microorganisms. These light harvesting complexes increase growth rates and photosynthetic efficiency of the constituent microorganisms, reducing the light required for a specific production level, or increases production for a specific light level. Compositions including zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVIs) in solution with photosynthetic bioproduct producing microorganisms. The nZVIs cause increased growth, lipid production and fatty acid production.

Claims

1. A composition comprising a photosynthetic microorganism and a solution of zero-valent iron nanoparticles.

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said photosynthetic microorganism is a cyanobacteria.

3. A composition according to claim 2, wherein said cyanobacteria is F. diplosiphon.

4. A composition according to claim 3, wherein said F. diplosiphon is selected from F. diplosiphon strains B481 and SF33.

5. A composition according to any of claim 1, wherein said zero-valent iron nanoparticles have an average size of 50 nm and an average surface area of 20-25 m²/g.

6. A composition according to any of claim 1, wherein said zero-valent iron nanoparticles have a biodegradable organic coating of tetraethyl orthosilicate.

7. A composition according to any of claim 1, wherein said zero-valent iron nanoparticles are Nanofer 25s.

8. A composition according to any of claim 1, wherein said zero-valent iron nanoparticles are present in a concentration of between about 0.2 to about 1.6 mg/L of photosynthetic microorganism.

9. A method of increasing photosynthetic microorganism biomass comprising growing cultures of said photosynthetic microorganism in a solution comprising zero-valent iron nanoparticles.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said photosynthetic microorganism is a cyanobacteria.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said cyanobacteria is F. diplosiphon.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said F. diplosiphon is selected from F. diplosiphon strains B481 and SF33.

13. A method according to any of claim 9, wherein said zero-valent iron nanoparticles have an average size of 50 nm and an average surface area of 20-25 m²/g.

14. A method according to any of claim 9, wherein said zero-valent iron nanoparticles have a biodegradable organic coating of tetraethyl orthosilicate.

15. A method according to any of claim 9, wherein said zero-valent iron nanoparticles are Nanofer 25s.

16. A method according to any of claim 9, wherein said zero-valent iron nanoparticles are present in a concentration of between about 0.2 to about 1.6 mg/L of photosynthetic microorganism.

17. A method of increasing lipid production of a photosynthetic microorganism comprising growing cultures of said photosynthetic microorganism in a solution comprising zero-valent iron nanoparticles.

18-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A method for producing fatty acid methyl esters comprising growing cultures of said photosynthetic microorganism in a solution comprising zero-valent iron nanoparticles, and subjecting said lipids produced by said photosynthetic microorganism to transesterification.

26-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A method for producing biofuel biomass with improved biofuel properties, comprising growing cultures of said photosynthetic microorganism in a solution comprising zero-valent iron nanoparticles.

35-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A method for increasing the biofuel potential of a photosynthetic microorganism comprising growing said photosynthetic microorganism in a solution comprising zero-valent iron nanoparticles.

44-51. -51. (canceled)