Intrexon said its industrial products division achieved the bioconversion of methane to farnesene, a key building-block chemical for biobased lubricants and base oil.
Traditional conversion platforms rely on costly thermochemical catalytic processes, such as the Fischer-Tropsch method of carbon upgrading, or depend on available sugar-based technologies or plant-based feedstocks, which are expensive sources of carbon, Intrexon said in a news release. By utilizing natural gas as its supply source, Intrexons proprietary bioconversion platform uses one of the most economical forms of carbon that is highly abundant and is the least costly form of energy other than coal. Moreover, unlike sugar, natural gas is a highly reduced source of carbon, allowing conversion of the entire feedstock to highly reduce products.
San Carlos, Calif.-based Intrexon said it is developing microbial cell lines genetically enhanced to convert methane to higher carbon content compounds at ambient temperatures and pressures, which the company claims reduces the significant expenditures compared to standard gas-to-liquid processes.
Intrexons methane bioconversion platform holds the potential to transform the GTL industry by generating valuable fuels and chemicals at a fraction of the costs of more traditional conversion methods, said Robert Walsh, senior vice president of Intrexons energy sector. We see natural gas being in ample supply for the foreseeable future, and our ability to upgrade this inexpensive carbon via our genome engineering capabilities will allow for a biocatalyst solution with a compelling economic return.
Intrexon isnt disclosing any additional details about the announcement and its bioconversion platform at this time, company spokeswoman Marie Rossi told Lube Report.
Emeryville, Calif.-based Novvi, a joint venture of Amyris and Cosan, uses Amyris modified yeast to convert sugar cane syrup into farnesene. It is then finished chemically to create high-end base oils. Amyris makes farnesene every day at industrial scale thanks to our proven technology to convert plant sugars into hydrocarbons like farnesene, Amyris Senior Vice President Joel Velasco told Lube Report. We have an extensive track record and patent portfolio around farnesene. Velasco noted that farnesene is a hydrocarbon, and that anyone can try to make it. He had no comment on Intrexons announcement.
Allen Barbieri, chairman and CEO of Irvine, Calif.-based Biosynthetic Technologies – its base oils are synthesized from fatty acids found in vegetable oils – told Lube Report his company welcomed new technologies such as Intrexons, because it helps lead to broader acceptance of these types of technologies.