Biofuel Production: Engineering and Synthetic Biology Approaches

This essay investigates the integration of engineering and synthetic biology in the production of biofuel, primarily focusing on microalgae as a sustainable feedstock. It examines the increasing global energy demand and the limitations of fossil fuels, highlighting the potential of biomass-derived biofuels to mitigate environmental concerns. The essay delves into the application of systems and synthetic biology to engineer microorganisms for biofuel production, emphasizing the use of microalgae due to their high lipid and carbohydrate content. The concept of microalgae-based biorefineries is explored, including the extraction of high-value co-products like biodiesel and pigments. The essay also discusses the challenges of biofuel engineering, such as inefficient harvesting and low productivity, and explores genetic engineering tools to enhance lipid production. Furthermore, the essay covers the fed-batch process as a cultivation method and the role of spectral quality in facilitating photosynthesis. Finally, the essay concludes with the potential of microalgae as bio-factories, which produce high-value components, and emphasizes the role of synthetic biology in creating novel biological systems for biofuel production. The references include studies from 2009 onwards.

Running head: ENGINEERING AND SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
Combining engineering (red) and synthetic biology (white) towards the production of biofuel
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ENGINEERING AND SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY 2
Combining engineering (red) and synthetic biology (white) towards the production of
biofuel
The recent increase in worldwide population incorporated with fast international
industrial development has resulted in a tremendous rise in worldwide per capita energy
consumption. Various sources of non-renewable energy, especially fossil fuels, are fulfilling
the rising demand in energy being consumed (Culp, Yim, Waglechner, Wang, Pawlowski, &
Wright 2019). It is also estimated in previous studies that based on the current usage, the
international market for energy consumed is envisioned to heighten by an approximate of
50% more by 2030. It is also speculated that further pressure will be exerted on the dwindling
fossil fuel reserves because of the simultaneous addition of approximately 1.7 billion people
when it comes to the international populace. Additionally, Shuba & Kifle (2018) during his
study developed that, non-renewable bases such as regular oil are likely to be consumed 105
times faster compared to other replacements and therefore the issue requires instant
responsiveness to look for an unconventional, renewable as well as viable energy resources.
This essay focuses on combining Combining engineering (red) and synthetic biology (white)
towards the production of biofuel in biotechnology.
For instance, biomass-derived biofuels are the most considered sustainable alternative
to fossil fuels. Which means, it is possible to mitigate complications such as excessive
emission of carbon and water pollution, which are associated with fossil fuel combustion
(Ahmad, Yasin, Derek, Lim, 2011). Several studies such as Acheampong, Ertem, Kappler &
Neubauer (2017) developed that there is a segregation of biofuels into four generations which
have been categorized according to their feedstock materials such as various cereals, food
crops that are found in oil as well as sugarcane. The second-generation biofuel is
encompassed in the manufacture of bioethanol and methanol extracted from crops at a
decreased cost, forest filtrates as well as agricultural residues. Therefore, according to a

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research conducted by Shuba & Kifle (2018), sea biomass such as seaweeds as well as the
algae for the age band of biofuels which includes biogas, butanol, and ethanol are exploited
by the third generation of biofuels. Recent studies such as Oey, Sawyer, Ross & Hankamer
(2016) indicate that there are recent developments when it comes to systems biology as well
as synthetic biology which are allowing the development biofuels of the fourth generation.
These biofuels engineer microorganisms which after that serve as feedstock materials. This
leaves room for researchers to conduct further research involving the development of other
alternative biofuel molecules which have structures and features that are similar short-chain
aromatics, cyclic alcohols as well as branched-chain.
In recent studies Shuba & Kifle (2018) it is evident that most populated countries give
much attention to the microalgae because of their potential utilization as a feedstock by
virtue. Shuba & Kifle developed that this is because microalgae contain lipid contents as well
as high carbohydrates which enhance rapid development rates and resistance to the constantly
changing ecological conditions. Additionally, recent developments in reverse engineering
tools such as genome sequence and gene targeting have allowed the unraveling of novel
metabolic pathways which tend to occur in the algal cells as well as within the synthesize
new biological systems. As developed by Oey, Sawyer, Ross & Hankamer (2016), during
their research, all these systems are designed to further the production of biofuel.
Algal biorefinery products.
Based on previous research conducted by Ramanan, Kim, Cho, Oh, & Kim
(2016) developing microalgae-based biofuels alone is not sufficient as an economically
competitive alternative especially to the current technologies, and therefore most companies
have resolved to focus on the abstraction of high-value co-products from microalgae. The
main aim of the shifted focus is to ensure there is increased improvement when it comes to
the economics of microalgae-based biorefinery. Jagadevan et al. (2018) defined biorefinery

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approach as the system in which elements such as chemical, energy, products with an
increased such as proteins, vitamins and lipids as well fuel are produced from biomass by
exploiting different processes. Additionally, Jagadevan and his colleges also mentioned that
Microalgae tend to contain luxurious products such as carbohydrates, proteins as well as
lipids, where the amount of these components available vary based on different microalgal
strains. According to research conducted by Ramanan, Kim, Cho, Oh, & Kim (2016), most of
these components are often used as feedstock in the production of bio-based products with
the highest value and best quality. Some of these top valued products include the creation of
biodiesel which is produced from microalgal lipids and alternate carbon sources, especially
those found within the fermentation industries (Gaurav, Sivasankari, Kiran, Ninawe &
Selvin, 2017).
Besides, other produced natural pigments that include chlorophylls, as well as
phycobiliproteins, are designed to serve as precursors when it comes to the vitamins food in
our foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. On the contrary, several studies are now
putting their primary focus on microalgal genes indoctrination enzymes mostly involved in
the carotenoid synthesis, which has the highest value (Shuba & Kifle, 2018). From evidence
developed by Ramanan, Kim, Cho, Oh, & Kim (2016) microalgae also tend to serve as a
potential expression system for the synthesis of biopolymers. In other recent studies such as
Oey, Sawyer, Ross & Hankamer (2016), Synechococcus elongatus was engineered from an
ATP hydrolysis-based which is known as a driving force module designed to produce high-
value components such as 3-hydroxybutyrate.
Cultivating algal
Lipids accumulation when it comes to microalgae tends to take place under stress
conditions such as an environment with a limited amount of nutrients while the accumulation
of biomass which mostly dependent on photosynthesis takes place in an environment which

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is in nitrogen. Constant production of lipids tends to be significantly offset by such
contradictions, and therefore, the entire economics of the system is affected (Ramanan, Kim,
Cho, Oh, & Kim, 2016). Most researchers have recommended the fed-batch process as the
most suitable and efficient method when it comes to cultivation of microalgal. According to
Ramanan, Kim, Cho, Oh, & Kim (2016), the fed-batch process offers flexibility when it
comes to the customization nutrients which have been made available throughout the process.
Another research conducted by Zhu, Albrecht, Elliott, Hallen & Jones (2013) developed that
both the lipid contents as well as algal biomass remained noticeably increased throughout the
process.
Furthermore, other previous studies such as Shuba & Kifle (2018) and Jagadevan et
al. (2018) have provided evidence that the supply of light when it comes to the phototrophic
process for the duration of the fed-batch culture improved the lipid in terms of productivity.
According to researchers such as Culp, Yim, Waglechner, Wang, Pawlowski, & Wright
(2019), the quality of spectral quality plays a significant role when it comes to facilitating
photosynthesis. However, irradiation absorption, which tends to correspond to the
concentration band of the algal chlorophyll, can lead to the enhancement of photosynthesis.
As developed by Jagadevan et al. (2018) microalgae tends to make use of a source of organic
carbon as a substrate to enhance a rapid growth rate that will later be converted into lipids
uniquely when placed under heterotrophic growth circumstances. It is evident that the budget
of the processes rises significantly because of the high reliance on the obtainability of a
constant supply of sugar.
Biofuel engineering
Microalgae-derived biofuel does not only ensure there is a maintained balance
between biomass contents and productions of lipid, but it as well faces challenges of
inefficient harvesting techniques as well as a decrease in productivity. According to research

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conducted by Culp, Yim, Waglechner, Wang, Pawlowski, & Wright, (2019) challenges when
it comes to decreasing in productivity, and inefficient harvesting procedures are caused by the
ineffective photobioreactor design as well as low photosynthetic efficiency. However, tools
of genetic engineering which are designed specifically for overexpression of enzymes and
mostly involved in lipid combination provide a substantial probable process to engineer the
necessary metabolic rates (Culp, Yim, Waglechner, Wang, Pawlowski, & Wright 2019).
Genetic employment on the other hand, when it comes to microalgae is termed as a
challenging process as excision tools are species-specific which cannot be used
interchangeably due to the present strategies which are defective as well as the excessive
usage of codon (Ahmad, Yasin, Derek, Lim, 2011).
Conclusion
There is immense potential in microalgae as far as bio-factories which produces high-
value components such as lipids, recombinant proteins hydrogen, as well as enzymes, are
concerned. However, the abstraction of these components with higher value and quality helps
to create microalgae-based renewable drive as an economically practicable preference. It is
evident from the essay that synthetic biology when it comes to biotechnology is recently
emerging as an arena that amicably combines both science and engineering in order to
enhance the construction of novel biological systems aiming to achieve rationally formulated
objectives.

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References
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Culp, E. J., Yim, G., Waglechner, N., Wang, W., Pawlowski, A. C., & Wright, G. D. (2019).
Hidden antibiotics in actinomycetes can be identified by inactivation of gene clusters
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