Methods and Compositions for the Recombinant Biosynthesis of N-Alkanes

Abstract

The present disclosure identifies methods and compositions for modifying photoautotrophic organisms as hosts, such that the organisms efficiently convert carbon dioxide and light into n-alkanes, and in particular the use of such organisms for the commercial production of n-alkanes and related molecules.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel composition comprising a mixture of alkanes, wherein the mixture comprises pentadecane, hexadecane, and heptadecane, wherein heptadecane and pentadecane are predominant in the mixture, and wherein at least a portion of the carbon used as raw material of the alkanes in the mixture is inorganic carbon. 
     
     
         2 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises nonadecene. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises tridecane. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises tetradecane. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition is a low-sulfur fuel composition. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition is a carbon-neutral fuel composition. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition has a higher δ p  than a comparable fuel composition made from fixed atmospheric carbon or plant-derived biomass. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises diesel. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic carbon is carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         10 . A fuel composition comprising a mixture of alkanes, wherein the mixture comprises pentadecane, hexadecane, and heptadecane, wherein heptadecane and pentadecane are predominant in the mixture, and wherein at least a portion of the carbon in the alkanes in the mixture is inorganic carbon. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises nonadecene. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises tridecane. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises tetradecane. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel composition is a low-sulfur fuel composition. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel composition is a carbon-neutral fuel composition. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel composition has a higher δ p  than a comparable fuel composition made from fixed atmospheric carbon or plant-derived biomass. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises diesel. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the inorganic carbon is derived from carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         19 . A fuel composition comprising a mixture of alkanes, wherein the mixture comprises pentadecane, hexadecane, and heptadecane, wherein heptadecane and pentadecane are predominant in the mixture, and wherein the fuel composition has a higher δ p  than a comparable fuel composition made from fixed atmospheric carbon or plant-derived biomass. 
     
     
         20 . The fuel composition of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the carbon used as raw material of the alkanes in the mixture is inorganic carbon; or wherein at least a portion of the carbon in the alkanes in the mixture is inorganic carbon.