The biological production of beta-hydroxyisovalerate (βHIV) using a non-natural microorganism. The non-natural microorganism for the biologically-derived βHIV provides more beta-hydroxyisovalerate synthase activity than the wild-type parent. The non-natural microorganism can host a non-natural enzyme, such as the non-natural enzyme expressed in a yeast or bacteria, wherein the non-natural microorganism comprises an active βHIV metabolic pathway for the production of βHIV. The biological derivation of βHIV eliminates toxic by-products and impurities that result from the chemical production of βHIV, such that βHIV produced by a non-natural microorganism prior to any isolation or purification process has not been in substantial contact with any halogen-containing component.

The biological production of beta-hydroxyisovalerate (βHIV) using a non-natural microorganism. The non-natural microorganism for the biologically-derived βHIV provides more beta-hydroxyisovalerate synthase activity than the wild-type parent. The non-natural microorganism can host a non-natural enzyme, such as the non-natural enzyme expressed in a yeast or bacteria, wherein the non-natural microorganism comprises an active βHIV metabolic pathway for the production of βHIV. The biological derivation of βHIV eliminates toxic by-products and impurities that result from the chemical production of βHIV, such that βHIV produced by a non-natural microorganism prior to any isolation or purification process has not been in substantial contact with any halogen-containing component.

Described is a method for the production of 3-buten-2-one comprising the enzymatic conversion of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone into 3-buten-2-one by making use of an enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration, wherein said enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration is (a) a 3-hydroxypropiony-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.116), (b) a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.55), (c) an enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17), (d) a 3-hydroxyoctanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.59), (e) a crotonyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] hydratase (EC 4.2.1.58), (f) a 3-hydroxydecanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.60), (g) a 3-hydroxypalmitoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.61), (h) a long-chain-enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.74), or (i) a 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.18). The produced 3-buten-2-one can be further converted into 3-buten-2-ol and finally into 1,3-butadiene.

Described is a method for the production of 3-buten-2-one comprising the enzymatic conversion of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone into 3-buten-2-one by making use of an enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration, wherein said enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration is (a) a 3-hydroxypropiony-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.116), (b) a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.55), (c) an enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17), (d) a 3-hydroxyoctanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.59), (e) a crotonyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] hydratase (EC 4.2.1.58), (f) a 3-hydroxydecanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.60), (g) a 3-hydroxypalmitoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.61), (h) a long-chain-enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.74), or (i) a 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.18). The produced 3-buten-2-one can be further converted into 3-buten-2-ol and finally into 1,3-butadiene.

A system optionally including a carbon oxide reactor. A method for carbon oxide reactor control, optionally including selecting carbon oxide reactor aspects based on a desired output composition, running a carbon oxide reactor under controlled process conditions to produce a desired output composition, and/or altering the process conditions to alter the output composition.

A method for the substantially complete conversion of hydrogenous matter to higher value product, the method comprising: (i) subjecting the hydrogenous matter to a substantially complete deconstruction process in which an aqueous phase containing a multiplicity of deconstructed compounds is produced; and (ii) contacting the aqueous phase with an anode of a microbial electrolysis cell, said anode containing a community of microbes thereon which oxidatively degrade one or more of the oxygenated organic compounds in the aqueous phase to produce protons and free electrons at the anode, wherein the protons and free electrons are transported to the cathode to produce hydrogen gas or a valuable reduced organic compound at the cathode upon application of a suitable cell potential across the anode and cathode. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for practicing the method described above.

A method for the substantially complete conversion of hydrogenous matter to higher value product, the method comprising: (i) subjecting the hydrogenous matter to a substantially complete deconstruction process in which an aqueous phase containing a multiplicity of deconstructed compounds is produced; and (ii) contacting the aqueous phase with an anode of a microbial electrolysis cell, said anode containing a community of microbes thereon which oxidatively degrade one or more of the oxygenated organic compounds in the aqueous phase to produce protons and free electrons at the anode, wherein the protons and free electrons are transported to the cathode to produce hydrogen gas or a valuable reduced organic compound at the cathode upon application of a suitable cell potential across the anode and cathode. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for practicing the method described above.

A method for pretreating a wood dust includes conducting a structurally damaged step and an alkali treatment step. In the structurally damaged step, the wood dust is disposed in a scCO.sub.2 atmosphere with a pressure of 2600 psi to 3400 psi at a temperature of 40° C. to 120° C. for a predetermined time, and then the pressure is adjusted to drop to an atmospheric pressure in a sudden manner to obtain a structurally damaged wood dust. In the alkali treatment step, the structurally damaged wood dust is immersed in an alkaline H.sub.2O.sub.2 solution at a temperature of 50° C. to 70° C., a concentration of H.sub.2O.sub.2 in the alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution is in a range of 0.1 wt % to 2.1 wt %, and a pH value of the alkaline H.sub.2O.sub.2 solution is in a range of 10.5 to 12. Thus a treated wood dust is obtained.

A method for pretreating a wood dust includes conducting a structurally damaged step and an alkali treatment step. In the structurally damaged step, the wood dust is disposed in a scCO.sub.2 atmosphere with a pressure of 2600 psi to 3400 psi at a temperature of 40° C. to 120° C. for a predetermined time, and then the pressure is adjusted to drop to an atmospheric pressure in a sudden manner to obtain a structurally damaged wood dust. In the alkali treatment step, the structurally damaged wood dust is immersed in an alkaline H.sub.2O.sub.2 solution at a temperature of 50° C. to 70° C., a concentration of H.sub.2O.sub.2 in the alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution is in a range of 0.1 wt % to 2.1 wt %, and a pH value of the alkaline H.sub.2O.sub.2 solution is in a range of 10.5 to 12. Thus a treated wood dust is obtained.

Provided herein are processes and microorganisms which utilize both protein hydrolysates and carbohydrates from biomass feedstocks to produce renewable hydrocarbon compositions. Advantages of the disclosed methods may be recognized in fuel blends comprising such hydrocarbon compositions.