Several embodiments of the invention relate generally to a system and methods for the treatment of gaseous emissions comprising methane and one or more non-methane compounds that can influence the metabolism of methane-oxidizing microorganisms. In several embodiments, there is provided a system and methods for the treatment of methane emissions through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms to generate functionally consistent and harvestable products. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because they reduce environmentally-destructive methane emissions and produce harvestable end-products.

A method for improving biomass production and/or growth rate of a microorganism in a fermentation process is shown, and includes: (i) providing one or more microorganisms; (ii) providing a fermentation substrate suitable for fermenting the one or more microorganisms; (iii) mixing the one or more microorganisms and the fermentation substrate providing a fermentation broth; (iv) adding the fermentation broth to a fermentation tank; (v) injecting at least one gaseous substrate into the fermentation broth; (vi) running the fermentation process for a fermentation period of at least 1 hour; wherein the at least one gaseous substrate comprises one or more greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2).

A method for improving biomass production and/or growth rate of a microorganism in a fermentation process is shown, and includes: (i) providing one or more microorganisms; (ii) providing a fermentation substrate suitable for fermenting the one or more microorganisms; (iii) mixing the one or more microorganisms and the fermentation substrate providing a fermentation broth; (iv) adding the fermentation broth to a fermentation tank; (v) injecting at least one gaseous substrate into the fermentation broth; (vi) running the fermentation process for a fermentation period of at least 1 hour; wherein the at least one gaseous substrate comprises one or more greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2).

Methods and compositions for the oxidation of short alkanes by engineered microorganisms expressing enzymes are described, along with methods of use.

Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.

Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.

A fermentation tank is shown with an inlet for injecting at least one gaseous substrate into the tank, wherein the at least one gaseous substrate includes carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). One or more sensors may be included. Such sensors may be selected for determining gasses (such as CO.sub.2, methane, oxygen, etc.), nutrition, minerals, and/or pH. Active or static mixing devices may be included. The tank may be used in a method for improving biomass production and/or growth rate of a microorganism in a fermentation process such as shown and disclosed.

A fermentation tank is shown with an inlet for injecting at least one gaseous substrate into the tank, wherein the at least one gaseous substrate includes carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). One or more sensors may be included. Such sensors may be selected for determining gasses (such as CO.sub.2, methane, oxygen, etc.), nutrition, minerals, and/or pH. Active or static mixing devices may be included. The tank may be used in a method for improving biomass production and/or growth rate of a microorganism in a fermentation process such as shown and disclosed.

A method for improving biomass production and/or growth rate of a microorganism in a fermentation process is shown, and includes: (i) providing one or more microorganisms; (ii) providing a fermentation substrate suitable for fermenting the one or more microorganisms; (iii) mixing the one or more microorganisms and the fermentation substrate providing a fermentation broth; (iv) adding the fermentation broth to a fermentation tank; (v) injecting at least one gaseous substrate into the fermentation broth; (vi) running the fermentation process for a fermentation period of at least 1 hour; wherein the at least one gaseous substrate comprises one or more greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2).

A method for improving biomass production and/or growth rate of a microorganism in a fermentation process is shown, and includes: (i) providing one or more microorganisms; (ii) providing a fermentation substrate suitable for fermenting the one or more microorganisms; (iii) mixing the one or more microorganisms and the fermentation substrate providing a fermentation broth; (iv) adding the fermentation broth to a fermentation tank; (v) injecting at least one gaseous substrate into the fermentation broth; (vi) running the fermentation process for a fermentation period of at least 1 hour; wherein the at least one gaseous substrate comprises one or more greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2).