Improving Microbial Isobutene Production

Hydrocarbons, either monomeric or polymeric, dominate the industrialized world today. The primary method of harvesting these hydrocarbons is drilling for crude oil, and then “Cracking” this crude oil with heat and pressure to gather individual components. Both processes are highly energy intensive and produce significant amounts of pollution. To try and combat these harmful effects, much effort has been directed to engineering microbes to produce these chemical compounds from waste sources. To become economically viable, biofuel production must overcome some significant hurdles.

To surmount these barriers, I will be combining tolerance and metabolic engineering through the cutting-edge CRISPR/Cas technology, with computer based Flux modelling to increase production. This production system will also be tested for efficacy of production while utilizing sewage sludge as its’ primary carbon source.

This project will address public health issues of rural Alaska that come with inadequate methods for waste disposal, as well as to reduce the need for future drilling for and processing of hydrocarbons. Finally, if the production system is robust with waste as a feedstock, the engineered strain will provide a model for off planet manufacturing.