Microbial production of advanced transportation fuels in non-natural hosts

Abstract

The production of alternative transportation fuels from renewable sources has gained increased attention due to energy and environmental concerns. Recently, progress has been made in the development of microbe-based processes for the production of biofuels beyond ethanol. These biofuels possess superior fuel properties relative to ethanol, such as increased energy density, low hygroscopicity, and low vapor pressure. These fuels are also advantageous as they may be transported using existing infrastructure. The isobutanol production process, in particular, has already reached near-industrial level. Although many of these processes are still being scaled-up for commercial production, their potential for practical application is promising.