Microorganism mediated liquid fuels

Abstract

A method for producing a liquid fuel from a hydrocarbon source. In one embodiment, the method comprises disintegrating a hydrocarbon source, treating the disintegrated hydrocarbon source, solubilizing the disintegrated hydrocarbon source, admixing a biochemical liquor, wherein the biochemical liquor comprises at least one conversion enzyme to form liquid hydrocarbons, separating liquid hydrocarbons, and enriching the liquid hydrocarbons to form a liquid hydrocarbon product. Further, the method comprises producing a liquid fuel in-situ. In certain embodiments the method comprises modified enzymes for producing the liquid fuels.

1 . A method for producing liquid hydrocarbon product comprising,
 disintegrating a hydrocarbon source;   treating the disintegrated hydrocarbon source chemically;   solubilizing the disintegrated hydrocarbon source to form a slurry;   admixing a biochemical liquor into the slurry, wherein the biochemical liquor comprises at least one conversion enzyme, to form liquid hydrocarbons;   separating liquid hydrocarbons from the slurry, wherein contaminants remain in the slurry; and   enriching the liquid hydrocarbons to form a liquid hydrocarbon product.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disintegrating the hydrocarbon source comprises comminution of the hydrocarbon source. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein comminution comprises grinding. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein comminution comprises high-pressure steam treatment. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein treating the disintegrated hydrocarbon source further comprises oxidation of the hydrocarbon source. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein solubilizing the disintegrated hydrocarbon source comprises treating the disintegrated hydrocarbon source with at least one enzyme. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein admixing biochemical liquor comprises admixing at least one additional enzyme. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein admixing at least one additional enzyme further comprises admixing an enzyme for converting a hydrocarbon source to lower molecular weight hydrocarbons. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein separating liquid hydrocarbons comprises a process of settling the slurry from the liquid hydrocarbon. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein separating liquid hydrocarbons comprises settling contaminants from the liquid hydrocarbon. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enriching the liquid hydrocarbon comprises admixing the liquid hydrocarbon with at least one enzyme. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon source comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of coal, anthracite coal, bituminous coal, lignite, sub-bituminous coal, low-rank coals, coke, tar sand, oil shale, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biochemical liquor comprises a modified enzyme. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the modified enzyme comprises an enzyme that is genetically modified. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the modified enzyme comprises an enzyme that is chemically modified. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the modified enzyme comprises an enzyme configured for bond selective photo-fragmentation. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is conducted in-situ in a coal mine. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is conducted ex-situ on mined coal. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enriching the liquid hydrocarbons comprises improving the liquid hydrocarbon product qualities prior to distillation. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbon product comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and distillates thereof. 
   
   
       21 . A method for in-situ coal to liquid hydrocarbon conversion, comprising:
 locating an underground coal seam;   drilling at least one well, the well in contact with the underground coal seam and having a means to cycle liquids therethrough;   pressurizing the underground coal seam with steam;   cycling reactants through the underground coal seam, wherein the reactants comprise at least one enzyme, to form a slurry;   withdrawing a portion of the slurry;   processing the slurry to produce the liquid hydrocarbon;   separating the liquid hydrocarbon from the slurry; and   returning the slurry to the coal seam for further processing.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one well is in fluid communication with a reactant stream. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one well is in fluid communication with a slurry processing stream. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein cycling reactants to form a slurry further comprises
 solubilizing the coal to form a slurry;   converting the coal to form liquid hydrocarbons;   separating contaminant compounds from the liquid hydrocarbons, wherein the contaminant compounds comprise pollutants;   settling the slurry from the liquid hydrocarbons, wherein the liquid hydrocarbons are suitable for liquid fuels; and   processing the liquid hydrocarbons to liquid fuels.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of solubilizing the coal comprises treating the coal with at least one enzyme. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of converting the coal comprises treating the coal with at least one enzyme. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of separating contaminant compounds comprises treating the liquid hydrocarbons with at least one enzyme. 
   
   
       28 . A method for using an enzyme to produce liquid fuels, comprising
 selecting a microorganism, the microorganism producing an enzyme;   modifying a microorganism genetically, to increase the production of the enzyme;   modifying the enzyme structurally, to alter the activity of the enzyme, to form a modified enzyme;   collecting the modified enzyme, to form a biochemical liquor comprising at least one modified enzyme; and   exposing a hydrocarbon source to the biochemical liquor to form a liquid fuel precursor.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the step of selecting a microorganism comprises selecting at least one microorganism chosen from the group consisting of hypoliths, endoliths, cryptoliths, acidophiles, alkaliphiles, thermophiles, ithoautotrophs, halophiles, piezophiles, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , where modifying a microorganism comprises inserting a nucleic acid vector. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein modifying a microorganism genetically comprises directed mutagenesis. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein modifying an enzyme comprises structurally changing an enzyme. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein exposing the biochemical liquor to the hydrocarbon source further comprises transmitted-radiation directed fragmentation.