Synthesis of bioproducts from lignin-derived aromatics by genetically modified microorganisms
The present invention provides for a method of converting a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound into a bioproduct, comprising: (a) providing a composition comprising a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound, optionally a depolymerized cellulose, and optionally a depolymerized hemicellulose, and (b) introducing a genetically modified microorganism to the composition, wherein the genetically modified microorganism is capable of converting the depolymerized lignin aromatic compound into a bioproduct; such that the depolymerized lignin aromatic compound is converted into a bioproduct.
1. A mixture of bioproducts produced by converting a mixture of depolymerized lignin aromatic compounds using a genetically modified microorganism capable of converting each depolymerized lignin aromatic compound into a bioproduct; wherein the mixture of depolymerized lignin aromatic compounds comprises:
(i) a mixture of depolymerized lignin aromatic compounds comprising the following chemical structures:
wherein R and R′ are each independently —H or —OCH 3 , and
wherein R, R′ and R″ are each independently —H, —OH, or —OCH 3 ,
(ii) a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound having the following chemical structure:
wherein R and R′ are each independently —H or —OCH 3 ,
(iii) a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound having the following chemical
wherein R and R′ are each independently —H or —OCH 3 and
(iv) an ionic liquid.
2. A composition comprising:
(a) (i) a mixture of depolymerized lignin aromatic compounds comprising the following chemical structures:
wherein R and R′ are each independently —H or —OCH 3 , and
wherein R, R′ and R″ are each independently —H, —OH, or —OCH 3 ,
(ii) a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound having the following chemical structure:
wherein R and R′ are each independently —H or —OCH 3 , and
(iii) a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound having the following chemical structure:
wherein R and R′ are each independently —H or —OCH 3 ,
(b) a depolymerized cellulose,
(c) a depolymerized hemicellulose,
(d) a genetically modified microorganism, wherein the genetically modified microorganism is capable of converting the depolymerized lignin aromatic compound into a bioproduct, and
(e) an ionic liquid.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the genetically modified microorganism is a fungal microorganism.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the fungal microorganism is of the genus Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium , or Exophiala.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fungal microorganism is Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Rhodotorula graminis , or Rhodotorula glutinis.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the fungal microorganism is Rhodosporidium toruloides.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the fungal microorganism is Exophiala alcalophila.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the genetically modified microorganism is a bacterial microorganism.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the bacterial microorganism is of the genus Delftia or Rhodococcus.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bacterial microorganism is Delftia acidovorans.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bacterial microorganism is Rhodococcus rhodocorus.
12. A method of converting a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound into a bioproduct, comprising:
(a) providing a composition comprising
(i) a mixture of depolymerized lignin aromatic compounds comprising the following chemical structures:
wherein R and R′ are each independently —H or —OCH 3 , and
wherein R, R′ and R″ are each independently —H, —OH, or —OCH 3 ,
(ii) a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound having the following chemical structure:
wherein R and R′ are each independently —H or —OCH 3 ,
(iii) a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound having the following
wherein R and R′ are each independently —H or —OCH 3 , and
(iv) an ionic liquid, and
(b) introducing a genetically modified microorganism to the composition, wherein the genetically modified microorganism is capable of converting one of the depolymerized lignin aromatic compounds into a bioproduct;
such that the genetically modified microorganism converts a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound into the bioproduct.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the genetically modified microorganism is a fungal microorganism.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fungal microorganism is of the genus Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium , or Exophiala.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fungal microorganism is Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Rhodotorula graminis , or Rhodotorula glutinis.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fungal microorganism is Rhodosporidium toruloides.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fungal microorganism is Exophiala alcalophila.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the genetically modified microorganism is a bacterial microorganism.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the bacterial microorganism is of the genus Delftia or Rhodococcus.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the bacterial microorganism is Delftia acidovorans.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the bacterial microorganism is Rhodococcus rhodocorus.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises contacting, prior to the providing step (a), a starting material with a depolymerization agent, wherein the starting material comprises a lignocellulosic biomass.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the depolymerization agent is NaOH, CuSO 4 , nitrobenzene, metal oxides, oxygen, a metal organic framework of Cu 2+ or Fe 3+ , ammonium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, Fenton's reagent, tetralin, sodium formate, or formic acid, or imidazolium ionic liquid.