Bio-syngas to Fatty Alcohols (C6-14) as a Pathway to Fuels Award Number: DE-EE0007728 CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6 Bioenergy Technologies Office Date: 9/12/2016 Location(s): MI Office(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
September 16, 2016
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Bio-syngas to Fatty Alcohols (C6-14) as a Pathway to Fuels
Award Number: DE-EE0007728
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Bioenergy Technologies Office
Date: 9/12/2016
Location(s): MI
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to the Dow Chemical Company to develop a process for syngas fermentation to C6-C14 alcohols using engineered bacteria. These alcohols could then be used as precursors for production of renewable hydrocarbon fuels meeting the 2022 cost target of $3/gallon gasoline equivalent (gge) from lignocellulosic biomass.
Activities associated with the proposed project would include baseline validation (Task 1), strain and fermentation optimization (Tasks 2, 3, 7 & 8), identification of products and pathways (Tasks 4 & 5), development of plans for purification of products (Task 6), process validation (Task 9), and project management (Task 10). Literature searches, information gathering, computer modeling, feasibility studies, and document preparation would be completed by Northwestern University. Fermentation and strain modeling, development and demonstration activities would take place at LanzaTech, Inc. facilities in Skokie, IL. Strain characterization, cell banking, and identification of products and pathways would be completed by The Dow Chemical Company from their research facilities in Freeport, TX and Midland, MI. The facilities utilized for all lab work under this award are pre-existing, purpose-built facilities and would not need any physical modification or additional permits for the proposed activities.