US 12,234,497 B2
Use of oxyhydrogen microorganisms for non-photosynthetic carbon capture and conversion of inorganic and/or C1 carbon sources into useful organic compounds
John S. Reed, Pleasanton, CA (US); and Lisa Dyson, Pleasanton, CA (US)
Assigned to Kiverdi, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed by Kiverdi, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/104,500.
Application 18/104,500 is a continuation of application No. 17/592,167, filed on Feb. 3, 2022, abandoned.
Application 17/592,167 is a continuation of application No. 15/963,536, filed on Apr. 26, 2018, granted, now 11,274,321.
Application 15/963,536 is a continuation of application No. 13/643,872, abandoned, previously published as PCT/US2011/034218, filed on Apr. 27, 2011.
Application 13/643,872 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2010/001402, filed on May 12, 2010.
Application PCT/US2010/001402 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/613,550, filed on Nov. 6, 2009, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/111,794, filed on Nov. 6, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2023/0183762 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12P 7/625 (2022.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12N 1/12 (2006.01); C12N 1/20 (2006.01); C12P 1/04 (2006.01); C12P 3/00 (2006.01); C12P 5/02 (2006.01); C12P 7/06 (2006.01); C12P 7/08 (2006.01); C12P 7/16 (2006.01); C12P 7/40 (2006.01); C12P 7/54 (2006.01); C12P 7/6463 (2022.01); C12P 7/649 (2022.01); C12P 21/00 (2006.01); C25B 1/04 (2021.01); C25B 15/02 (2021.01)
CPC C12P 7/625 (2013.01) [C12M 23/34 (2013.01); C12M 29/02 (2013.01); C12M 29/08 (2013.01); C12M 29/18 (2013.01); C12M 29/20 (2013.01); C12M 43/04 (2013.01); C12M 47/02 (2013.01); C12N 1/12 (2013.01); C12N 1/20 (2013.01); C12N 1/205 (2021.05); C12P 1/04 (2013.01); C12P 3/00 (2013.01); C12P 5/023 (2013.01); C12P 7/065 (2013.01); C12P 7/08 (2013.01); C12P 7/16 (2013.01); C12P 7/40 (2013.01); C12P 7/54 (2013.01); C12P 7/6463 (2013.01); C12P 7/649 (2013.01); C12P 21/00 (2013.01); C25B 1/04 (2013.01); C25B 15/02 (2013.01); Y02E 50/10 (2013.01); Y02E 50/30 (2013.01); Y02E 60/36 (2013.01); Y02P 20/133 (2015.11); Y02W 30/40 (2015.05)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A biological and chemical method to form an organic chemical product, comprising:
introducing an inorganic carbon compound and/or an organic compound containing only one carbon atom into a bioreactor comprising an environment suitable for maintaining oxyhydrogen microorganisms from genus Xanthobacter, wherein the environment comprises the oxyhydrogen microorganisms in a liquid culture medium; and
converting the inorganic carbon compound and/or the organic compound containing only one carbon atom into biomass and/or an organic chemical product comprising a lipid, an amino acid, a peptide, and/or a protein within the environment via a carbon-fixing step that carries out at least one chemosynthetic carbon-fixing reaction utilizing the oxyhydrogen microorganisms;
wherein the at least one chemosynthetic carbon-fixing reaction is at least partially driven by chemical and/or electrochemical energy provided by electron donors comprising gaseous H2 and electron acceptors comprising gaseous O2,
wherein O2 gas is introduced into a first column comprising the oxyhydrogen microorganisms and liquid culture medium within the environment by sparging, bubbling, and/or diffusion of said O2 gas, and H2 gas and/or syngas containing the H2 gas is introduced into a second column comprising the oxyhydrogen microorganisms and liquid culture medium within the environment by sparging, bubbling, and/or diffusion of said H2 gas and/or syngas, wherein the first and second columns are separated from each other, a headspace of the first column and a headspace of the second column are isolated from each other by the liquid culture medium, and there is a liquid connection between the first and second columns comprising the liquid culture medium, and wherein the liquid culture medium circulates between the first and second columns,
wherein the carbon-fixing reaction is maintained using a continuous influx and removal of the liquid culture medium and/or biomass from the environment,
wherein surplus biomass is removed from the environment in order to maintain a constant population and cell density of said oxyhydrogen microorganisms in the liquid culture medium, and
wherein the biomass and/or the organic chemical product is separated from the liquid culture medium and processed into a fuel product, a nutritional product, an animal feed, a fertilizer, a soil additive, a soil stabilizer, a carbon source for fermentations, and/or a nutrient source for growth of other microbes or organisms.