Dehydrogenase Enzymatic Synthesis of Methanol
Project Leader: Bakul Dave
Unit: College of Science, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Brief Description:
This invention is a novel method for conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol. A combination of formate dehydrogenase enzymes, formaldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes, and either alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes or methanol dehydrogenase enzymes is contacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of a terminal electron donor to produce the methanol. The enzymes are typically fixed in a microporous matrix such as a sol-gel and the terminal electron donor is a cofactor of the enzymes, such as reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide matrix (which can also donate hydrogen ions to the reductions). The invention also provides for a mechanism for regeneration of the terminal electron donor for practically unlimited reuse.
Patent Status:
U.S. Patent No. 6,440,711, issued August 27, 2002. Additional patents pending.
Potential Commercial Uses:
Carbon dioxide is a common bi-product of numerous industrial processes. This invention provides for the efficient production of methanol as a valuable alternative end-product. Advantages include:
- Synthesis of methanol from carbon dioxide at low temperatures.
- Energy efficiency and high conversion rates.
- No need for special equipment previously required to tolerate high temperature or highly corrosive environments.
- Valuable products such as formic acid can be derived from the intermediate steps of the synthesis.
Contact:
Jeff Myers, Senior Technology Transfer Specialist, (618) 453-4543, fax: (618) 453-8038