Syngas Fermentation
Iowa State University has established a syngas fermentation program that explores hybrid thermochemical/biological processing of biomass. Located in the H.M. Black Engineering building on the ISU campus, the syngas fermentation facility shares lab space with a 5 kg/hr fluidized bed gasifier. The gaseous mixture resulting from the gasification of carbonaceous feedstocks can be fermented to various products including carboxylic acids, alcohols, esters, and hydrogen. The syngas fermentation facility includes onsite sample analysis capabilities and can be used to investigate potential syngas consuming microorganisms.
In benchtop (10 L) trials, syngas has been converted to polyhydroxy alkanoate (PHA) biopolymers in batch fermentations using Rhodospirillum rubrum, a photosynthetic purple non-sulfur bacterium. R. rubrum also facilitates a water-gas shift reaction which produces hydrogen from water and carbon monoxide.nditions to increase PHA and hydrogen productivity.
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- Syngas Fermentation Research Facility located in the H. M. Black Engineering Building
- Rhodospirillum rubrum culture in a New Brunswick BioFlo 110 benchtop fermentor
Papers, Reports, and Presentations:
Do, Y. S., J. Smeenk, et al. (2007).
"Growth of Rhodospirillum rubrum on synthesis gas: conversion of CO to H2 and poly-beta-hydroxyalkanoate." Biotechnol Bioeng 97(2): 279-86.
Chipman, D., Do, Y., Choi, D., Jones, S., DiSpirito, A., Brown, R. (2007) Syngas Fermentation Research Facility at Iowa State University, Biobased Industry Outlook Conference, Ames, IA, November 5-6, 2008.
Chipman, D., Choi, D., Jones, S., Brown, R. (2008) Optimization of PHA Production in Rhodospirillum rubrum Cultured on Carbon Monoxide from Synthesis Gas, 30th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, New Orleans, LA, May 3-7, 2008.
Chipman, D., Choi, D., Jones, S., DiSpirito, A., Brown, R. (2008) Optimization Strategies for Fermentative PHA Production from Synthesis Gas, 2008 Biobased Industry Outlook Conference, Ames, IA, September 7-10, 2008.
Chipman, D., Choi, D., Jones, S., Brown, R., DiSpirito, A. (2008) Hydrogen and Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production in Rhodospirillum rubrum Cultured on Carbon Monoxide from Synthesis Gas, 2008 Biobased Industry Outlook Conference, Ames, IA, September 7-10, 2008.
Choi, D., Chipman, D., Bents, S., Brown, R. (2008) A techno-economic analysis of polyhydroxyalkanoates and hydrogen production from syngas fermentation of gasified biomass, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Submitted (ABAB-S-08-00984).
Chipman, D., Choi, D., Jones, S., Brown, R. (2008) Optimization of PHA Production in Rhodospirillum rubrum Cultured on Carbon Monoxide from Synthesis Gas, Presidential Lecture Poster Presentation, Ames, IA, October 27, 2008.
Principle Investigators:
Dr. Robert Brown, Iowa State University, rcbrown
iastate.edu
Dr. Tom Bobik, Iowa State University, bobikiastate.edu
Dr. Alan DiSpirito, Iowa State University, alandiastate.edu
Research by:
Dr. Dong-Won Choi, Iowa State University, dwoniastate.edu
David Chipman, Iowa State University, dchipmaniastate.edu
Iowa State University CSET, 0411 Marston Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011-2153
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