Assessment of Conversion Technologies for Bioalcohol Fuel ...

CATEGORY X–OTHER BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES
Genotypes, Inc., Pacifica, California
Organizational Background–Genotypes, Inc. is a small California firm founded in
1992 as a contract research company to assist biotech/pharmaceutical companies
with yeast strain improvement. Its principals are experienced biochemists with
extensive backgrounds in the biotechnology industry. Since 1996, Genotypes has
been pursuing development of a novel technology approach to producing ethanol from
solar energy in shallow ponds employing specialty cultured organisms. The company
has filed several patents on its technology, beginning in 1998, involving bioengineering
the desired organism to photosynthetically produce ethanol in ponds.
Technology Characteristics–The Genotypes technology, shown in Figure A21,
involves use of a bioengineered photosynthetic (nitrogen-fixing) organism–
cyanobacteria stabilized as organelles in yeast–to produce ethanol in one meterdeep
ponds using only solar energy, water, atmospheric carbon dioxide and trace
minerals. Biomass would be produced during the growth of the organism up to an
appropriate density, then the biomass production would be essentially turned off and
replaced by direct conversion of photosynthetically produced sugars to ethanol. Thus
the organism would produce its own biomass feedstock, resulting in no net carbon
emissions since carbon dioxide taken up to produce sugars, which are directly
converted to ethanol in the organism, would be released by burning the alcohol but
then reabsorbed upon making more ethanol in the same organism. Genotypes
estimates the potential ethanol yields from this process to be in the range of 37,000
gallons per acre per year. This would translate, for example, into a land area
requirement of about 670 square miles to produce the ethanol equivalent of
California’s curent gasoline supply. Genotypes also estimates a potential ethanol
production cost from its pond technology could eventually be as low as $0.33 per
gallon.
The advantages claimed for this unique technological approach are: 1) Scaleable–
would use less than 1% of land that corn ethanol uses - could eventually be scaled to
completely replace gasoline. 2) Cost effective: scaled-up projections of less than
$1.00/gallon. 3) Carbon Neutral (no net carbon dioxide put in the air)–
environmentally friendly. 4) Sustainable–will not run out of feedstocks: sunshine,
carbon dioxide, and trace minerals. Also, the pond system is considered highly
adaptable to desert-type climates and areas not well-suited for conventional
agriculture or bioenergy crops.
Development Status–Genotypes has conducted laboratory research aimed at
developing the best photosynthetic organism for ethanol production at its former
laboratory in South San Francisco. The laboratory was sold in 2000, and Genotypes
continues to see partnerships with other developmental organizations and/or funding
to carry on this development work. The company has delivered a number of
111