FURI | Fall 2019

Bioproduction of renewable ethylene from an engineered cyanobacterium

Current ethylene production from fossil fuels is the largest CO₂-emitting process in the chemical industry. Bioproduction produces ethylene through consumption of CO₂ via photosynthesis. Advancements in bioproduction of ethylene is of great importance as a sustainable alternative and to supplement conventional ethylene production as demand increases. The aim of this research was to quantify ethylene production of engineered Synechocystissp. PCC 6803, further referred to as Synechocystis. Engineered strains were inoculated, monitoring growth, productivity, and cell mass.