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Rethinking biological activation of methane and conversion to liquid fuels

Nature Chemical Biology volume 10, pages 331–339 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

If methane, the main component of natural gas, can be efficiently converted to liquid fuels, world reserves of methane could satisfy the demand for transportation fuels in addition to use in other sectors. However, the direct activation of strong C-H bonds in methane and conversion to desired products remains a difficult technological challenge. This perspective reveals an opportunity to rethink the logic of biological methane activation and conversion to liquid fuels. We formulate a vision for a new foundation for methane bioconversion and suggest paths to develop technologies for the production of liquid transportation fuels from methane at high carbon yield and high energy efficiency and with low CO2 emissions. These technologies could support natural gas bioconversion facilities with a low capital cost and at small scales, which in turn could monetize the use of natural gas resources that are frequently flared, vented or emitted.

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Figure 1: Macro-level data encourages methane as a liquid fuel feedstock.
Figure 2: Native enzymes capable of oxidizing C-H bonds.
Figure 3: Pathways for the conversion of methane or glucose to butanol in an engineered microorganism.
Figure 4: Selective routes for the activation of C-H bonds in hydrocarbons.
Figure 5: Metabolic pathways to butanol from metabolic intermediates derived from the efficient activation of methane.
Figure 6: Bioprocess considerations and techno-economics.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank R.J. Conrado for his contributions to this work and E. Rohlfing for critically reading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Booz Allen Hamilton, Washington, DC, USA

    Chad A Haynes

  2. United States Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy, Washington, DC, USA

    Ramon Gonzalez

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Correspondence to Ramon Gonzalez.

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Haynes, C., Gonzalez, R. Rethinking biological activation of methane and conversion to liquid fuels. Nat Chem Biol 10, 331–339 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.1509

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