Friday, May 1, 2015
Researchers at England’s University of Manchester say they have made a breakthrough in the development of synthetic pathways that will enable renewable biosynthesis of propane. The research is part of a university program aimed at developing the next generation of biofuels. Their findings were published in the journal Biotechnology for Biofuels. Scientists at the university’s Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), working with colleagues at Imperial College London and the University of Turku, maintain they have taken one step closer to the commercial production of renewable propane.
The researchers note that natural metabolic pathways for the renewable biosynthesis of propane do not exist, but an alternative microbial biosynthetic pathway to produce renewable propane has been developed. The team, led by Nigel Scrutton, director of MIB, and Patrik Jones of Imperial College, modified existing fermentative butanol pathways. An engineered enzyme variant was used to redirect the microbial pathway to produce propane as opposed to butanol. The team was able to achieve propane biosynthesis, creating a platform for next-generation microbial propane production.
Scrutton and Jones comment that propane has good physicochemical properties that allow it to be stored and transported in a compressed liquid form. While under ambient conditions it is a clean-burning fuel with existing global markets and infrastructure for storage, distribution, and utilization in a wide range of applications ranging from heating to transport fuel. Consequently, propane is an attractive target product in research aimed at developing new renewable alternatives to complement currently used petroleum-derived fuels.
“This study focused on the construction and evaluation of alternative microbial biosynthetic pathways for the production of renewable propane,” said Scrutton. “It also expands the metabolic toolbox for renewable propane production, providing new insight and understanding of the development of next-generation biofuels, which one day could lead to commercial production.”
The researchers note that natural metabolic pathways for the renewable biosynthesis of propane do not exist, but an alternative microbial biosynthetic pathway to produce renewable propane has been developed. The team, led by Nigel Scrutton, director of MIB, and Patrik Jones of Imperial College, modified existing fermentative butanol pathways. An engineered enzyme variant was used to redirect the microbial pathway to produce propane as opposed to butanol. The team was able to achieve propane biosynthesis, creating a platform for next-generation microbial propane production.
Scrutton and Jones comment that propane has good physicochemical properties that allow it to be stored and transported in a compressed liquid form. While under ambient conditions it is a clean-burning fuel with existing global markets and infrastructure for storage, distribution, and utilization in a wide range of applications ranging from heating to transport fuel. Consequently, propane is an attractive target product in research aimed at developing new renewable alternatives to complement currently used petroleum-derived fuels.
“This study focused on the construction and evaluation of alternative microbial biosynthetic pathways for the production of renewable propane,” said Scrutton. “It also expands the metabolic toolbox for renewable propane production, providing new insight and understanding of the development of next-generation biofuels, which one day could lead to commercial production.”
