Rational Optimization of Microbial Processing for High Yield CO2-to-Isopropanol Conversion: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-20-17114

This project focuses on the production of the fuel blendstock isopropanol using a CO2-fixing Clostridium by metabolic engineering and process optimizations. The project will initiate from a baseline isopropanol producer and pursue isopropanol production at high carbon-conversion efficiency. We will lead engineering work by in-depth pathway analyses including thermodynamics optimization, enzyme expense analysis, metabolic robustness analysis, and -omics analysis. The isopropanol production will be optimized via genome editing followed by fermentation optimizations. This project will deliver a novel microbial process that efficiently converts waste CO2 to isopropanol at ~g/L titer level within 18-months. This project will layout a solid knowledge basis and technology platform for renewable CO2 valorization to bio-blendstock that help achieve Co-Optima and Shell's goals.