This disclosure describes methods that allow for the uncoupling of microbial growth from product formation, which allows for maximal use of raw material and optimal end-product formation.

A method for producing high purity iron oxide nanoparticles using nanoparticle-producing cells, including: a) a pre-growth step that includes amplifying the nanoparticle-producing cell(s) in a pre-growth and/or fed-batch medium/media, and b) a growth step that includes amplifying the nanoparticle-producing cell(s) originating from the pre-growth step in a growth and/or fed-batch medium/media, wherein the pre-growth and/or growth and/or fed-batch medium/media comprise(s), per kilogram or liter of pre-growth and/or growth and/or fed-batch medium/media: i) no more than 0.005 gram of yeast extract, and ii) no more than 0.001 gram of CMR agent selected from boric acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, wherein the fed-batch medium when it is present is a medium that supplements the pre-growth and/or growth medium/media, and wherein more nanoparticles are produced in the growth step than in the pre-growth step.

A method for producing high purity iron oxide nanoparticles using nanoparticle-producing cells, including: a) a pre-growth step that includes amplifying the nanoparticle-producing cell(s) in a pre-growth and/or fed-batch medium/media, and b) a growth step that includes amplifying the nanoparticle-producing cell(s) originating from the pre-growth step in a growth and/or fed-batch medium/media, wherein the pre-growth and/or growth and/or fed-batch medium/media comprise(s), per kilogram or liter of pre-growth and/or growth and/or fed-batch medium/media: i) no more than 0.005 gram of yeast extract, and ii) no more than 0.001 gram of CMR agent selected from boric acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, wherein the fed-batch medium when it is present is a medium that supplements the pre-growth and/or growth medium/media, and wherein more nanoparticles are produced in the growth step than in the pre-growth step.

The invention described herein presents compositions and methods for a multistep biological and chemical process for the capture and conversion of carbon dioxide and/or other forms of inorganic carbon into organic chemicals including biofuels or other useful industrial, chemical, pharmaceutical, or biomass products. One or more process steps utilizes chemoautotrophic microorganisms to fix inorganic carbon into organic compounds through chemosynthesis. An additional feature described are process steps whereby electron donors used for the chemosynthetic fixation of carbon are generated by chemical or electrochemical means, or are produced from inorganic or waste sources. An additional feature described are process steps for recovery of useful chemicals produced by the carbon dioxide capture and conversion process, both from chemosynthetic reaction steps, as well as from non-biological reaction steps.

The invention described herein presents compositions and methods for a multistep biological and chemical process for the capture and conversion of carbon dioxide and/or other forms of inorganic carbon into organic chemicals including biofuels or other useful industrial, chemical, pharmaceutical, or biomass products. One or more process steps utilizes chemoautotrophic microorganisms to fix inorganic carbon into organic compounds through chemosynthesis. An additional feature described are process steps whereby electron donors used for the chemosynthetic fixation of carbon are generated by chemical or electrochemical means, or are produced from inorganic or waste sources. An additional feature described are process steps for recovery of useful chemicals produced by the carbon dioxide capture and conversion process, both from chemosynthetic reaction steps, as well as from non-biological reaction steps.

Disclosed is a method and a device for biological production of sulfuric acid. The disclosure allows the use of high concentrations of sulfur as a feed for microbiological oxidation, resulting in high conversion of sulfur to sulfuric acid and, consequently, high sulfuric acid yields, which are obtained in an environmentally friendly way.

Disclosed is a method and a device for biological production of sulfuric acid. The disclosure allows the use of high concentrations of sulfur as a feed for microbiological oxidation, resulting in high conversion of sulfur to sulfuric acid and, consequently, high sulfuric acid yields, which are obtained in an environmentally friendly way.

The present disclosure describes systems and methods capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen into bio-available nitrogenous compounds, including ammonia. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to synthetic DNA constructs encoding genes to allow release of bio-available nitrogenous compounds in nitrogen fixing diazotrophic organisms. Many of these constructs encode these genes in inducible and constitutive means, such that inducible embodiments can be activated at select times. Additional embodiments are directed to genetically engineered diazotrophs utilizing these constructs to produce bio-available nitrogenous compounds. Further embodiments are directed to methods to create these constructs and organisms as well as to use these constructs and organisms.

The present disclosure describes systems and methods capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen into bio-available nitrogenous compounds, including ammonia. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to synthetic DNA constructs encoding genes to allow release of bio-available nitrogenous compounds in nitrogen fixing diazotrophic organisms. Many of these constructs encode these genes in inducible and constitutive means, such that inducible embodiments can be activated at select times. Additional embodiments are directed to genetically engineered diazotrophs utilizing these constructs to produce bio-available nitrogenous compounds. Further embodiments are directed to methods to create these constructs and organisms as well as to use these constructs and organisms.

Compositions and methods for hydrogen production are disclosed.