The invention relates to methods for enriching monomer content in a cycloalkane oxidation process mixed organic waste stream. In particular, the methods involve combining a biocatalyst with a mixed organic waste stream from a cycloalkane oxidation process, and enzymatically converting dimeric and/or oligomeric components of said waste stream into monomeric components. The methods may enrich the content of diacids, adipic acid, and/or other α,ω-difunctional C6 alkanes in the mixed organic waste stream. Additionally, the treated mixed organic waste streams may have improved burning efficiency.

The invention relates to methods for enriching monomer content in a cycloalkane oxidation process mixed organic waste stream. In particular, the methods involve combining a biocatalyst with a mixed organic waste stream from a cycloalkane oxidation process, and enzymatically converting dimeric and/or oligomeric components of said waste stream into monomeric components. The methods may enrich the content of diacids, adipic acid, and/or other α,ω-difunctional C6 alkanes in the mixed organic waste stream. Additionally, the treated mixed organic waste streams may have improved burning efficiency.

The present application discloses genetically modified yeast cells comprising an active 3-HP fermentation pathway, and the use of these cells to produce 3-HP.

A butyrate-producing bacterium belonging to Anaerostipes hadrus is provided. The amount of butyrate produced is at least 1.5 times that of Anaerostipes hadrus YIT 10092.sup.T (DSM 3319.sup.T) and is measured by thawing a frozen stock solution of the bacterial strain (a 10% (w/v) skim milk-2% sodium glutamate solution with suspended bacterial cells) (cell count: 2.0 to 5.5×10.sup.10 cells/mL), inoculating the solution at 1% to 4 mL of a PY liquid medium supplemented with 33 mM sodium acetate and 0.5 (w/v) % glucose (PYGA medium), followed by anaerobic culture at 37° C. for 24 hours, then inoculating the culture solution at 1% to a PYGA medium, followed by anaerobic culture at 37° C. for 24 hours, then inoculating the culture solution at 1% to a PY medium containing 33 mM sodium acetate and 0.5 (w/v) % L-sorbose, followed by anaerobic culture at 37° C. for 24 hours, and then measuring the butyrate concentration.

The present invention provides a multi-component enzyme system that hydrolyzes hemicellulose oligomers from hardwood which can be expressed, for example, in yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In some embodiments, this invention provides for the engineering of a series of biocatalysts combining the expression and secretion of components of this enzymatic system with robust, rapid xylose utilization, and ethanol fermentation under industrially relevant process conditions for consolidated bioprocessing. In some embodiments, the invention utilizes co-cultures of strains that can achieve significantly improved performance due to the incorporation of additional enzymes in the fermentation system.

The present invention provides a multi-component enzyme system that hydrolyzes hemicellulose oligomers from hardwood which can be expressed, for example, in yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In some embodiments, this invention provides for the engineering of a series of biocatalysts combining the expression and secretion of components of this enzymatic system with robust, rapid xylose utilization, and ethanol fermentation under industrially relevant process conditions for consolidated bioprocessing. In some embodiments, the invention utilizes co-cultures of strains that can achieve significantly improved performance due to the incorporation of additional enzymes in the fermentation system.

At least one isolated microorganism and a fermentation method to convert hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas, and/or carbon monoxide gas to a lower alkyl alcohol and/or carboxylic acid and to produce at least 2% by volume of the lower alkyl alcohol or carboxylic acid in an aqueous-based medium.

A method of producing butyric acid, comprising: (a) providing a microorganism co-culture system comprising an air-tight container and the following (1) to (3) contained in the air-tight container: (1) a substrate, comprising a saccharide; (2) at least one of a first strain and a second strain, wherein the first strain is able to fix a carbon oxide and the second strain is able to fermentatively metabolize an amino acid, and wherein the first strain produces a first metabolite in the fermentation, the second strain produces a second metabolite in the fermentation, and each of the first metabolite and the second metabolite comprises acetic acid; and (3) a third strain, being able to metabolize the saccharide, the first metabolite and the second metabolite in the fermentation to produce butyric acid and a metabolic byproduct in fermentation, wherein the metabolic byproduct comprises carbon oxide and hydrogen, wherein, when the second strain is present in the co-culture system, the substrate further comprises an amino acid; and (b) keeping the microorganism co-culture system under an anaerobic atmosphere to perform the fermentation and providing a fermentation product.

A method of producing butyric acid, comprising: (a) providing a microorganism co-culture system comprising an air-tight container and the following (1) to (3) contained in the air-tight container: (1) a substrate, comprising a saccharide; (2) at least one of a first strain and a second strain, wherein the first strain is able to fix a carbon oxide and the second strain is able to fermentatively metabolize an amino acid, and wherein the first strain produces a first metabolite in the fermentation, the second strain produces a second metabolite in the fermentation, and each of the first metabolite and the second metabolite comprises acetic acid; and (3) a third strain, being able to metabolize the saccharide, the first metabolite and the second metabolite in the fermentation to produce butyric acid and a metabolic byproduct in fermentation, wherein the metabolic byproduct comprises carbon oxide and hydrogen, wherein, when the second strain is present in the co-culture system, the substrate further comprises an amino acid; and (b) keeping the microorganism co-culture system under an anaerobic atmosphere to perform the fermentation and providing a fermentation product.

The present invention relates to a method for producing C4 bodies, preferably butyric acid and/or butanol, comprising the steps contacting an aqueous medium comprising an acetogenic bacterial cell in an aqueous medium with syngas and incubating the mixture obtained in step a) at a temperature between 0 and 100° C. for at least 30 minutes, wherein the aqueous medium comprises, in step b), ethanol and/or acetate at a total combined concentration is at least 0.1 gL.sup.−1.