Method for producing aliphatic carboxylic acids
The invention relates to a micro-organism comprising a hydrogenase enzyme system which is capable of converting carbon dioxide into formic acid and a second enzyme system which is capable of converting formic acid into aliphatic carboxylic acids having a chain length of five or more carbon atoms. Also described are various methods for producing oil, as well as other aspects of the invention.
1. A method for producing aliphatic carboxylic acids, the method comprising
converting carbon dioxide into formic acid by catalysis with a hydrogenase enzyme system in a medium; and
converting formic acid to aliphatic carboxylic acids having a chain length of five or more carbon atoms by catalysis with a second enzyme system in the medium,
wherein the hydrogenase enzyme system and the second enzyme system are from the Acetobacter strain having accession number NCIMB 41808 or a micro-organism derived therefrom.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises a micro-organism which is the Acetobacter strain having accession number NCIMB 41808 or a micro-organism derived therefrom.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reaction to produce the aliphatic carboxylic acids takes place at a pH of between about 3.0 and about 8.5.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reaction to produce the aliphatic carboxylic acids takes place at a temperature of between about 5° C. and about 60° C.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein carbon dioxide is the sole source of carbon.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein carbon dioxide is bubbled through the medium.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium is an oil-water emulsion.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises a carbon dioxide sequestering agent.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises an oxidising agent.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of the following steps:
1) separating the aliphatic carboxylic acids;
2) filtering the aliphatic carboxylic acids;
3) blending the aliphatic carboxylic acids with a different fuel;
4) chemically modifying the carboxylic acids; and
5) distilling and separating certain fractions from the aliphatic carboxylic acids.
11. The method of claim 3 , wherein the reaction to produce the aliphatic carboxylic acids takes place at a pH between about 6.0 and about 7.0.
12. The method of claim 4 , wherein the reaction to produce the aliphatic carboxylic acids takes place at a temperature of between about 15° C. and about 20° C.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the carboxylic acids are modified into esters, alcohols, ketones, or aldehydes.