A NOVEL METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR WASTE VALORIZATION USING SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND GENETIC ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES

Abstract

This invention provides an advanced system for waste valorization through synthetic biology and genetic engineering. By employing engineered microbial strains, optimized bioconversion processes, and real-time monitoring, the system converts diverse waste into biofuels, bioplastics, and chemicals. The modular, scalable design promotes sustainable waste management, supports a circular economy, and minimizes environmental impact.

Specification

Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to biotechnology and environmental management, focusing on advanced waste valorization systems. By utilizing synthetic biology and genetic engineering, the invention converts diverse waste types into valuable products such as biofuels, bioplastics, and chemicals. The system supports sustainable waste management practices, promoting a circular economy and reducing environmental impact.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Waste accumulation is a significant environmental and economic challenge worldwide. Landfills are reaching capacity, leading to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil and water contamination. Traditional waste disposal methods do not fully address these issues and often lack the efficiency required to handle increasing waste volumes. Agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste contribute to this crisis, underscoring the need for innovative solutions that offer both waste reduction and resource recovery.
The current waste processing technologies do not adequately convert waste into high-value products. Conventional systems are limited by their low recovery rates, high operational costs, and inability to fully utilize organic and inorganic waste. With the advancement of synthetic biology and genetic engineering, there is potential to develop systems that can efficiently process waste, transforming it into renewable resources. This invention leverages engineered microbial strains optimized for high conversion efficiency, offering an alternative to traditional waste management and supporting sustainability goals.
This invention addresses the critical research gap in waste valorization by combining synthetic biology with waste management technology. By employing CRISPR-Cas9 and metabolic pathway engineering, the invention enables engineered microorganisms to convert diverse waste substrates into valuable resources. This approach not only mitigates the environmental impacts of waste accumulation but also provides an economically viable solution to waste management, promoting resource recovery and a circular economy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention.
This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
The invention provides an advanced waste valorization system using synthetic biology and genetic engineering. This modular system integrates engineered microbial strains, optimized metabolic pathways, and IoT-based monitoring. It converts agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste into high-value products, including biofuels, bioplastics, and chemicals. The system supports sustainable waste management by reducing landfill dependency and greenhouse gas emissions, offering a scalable solution adaptable to various settings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
FIGURE 1: SHOWS THE WASTE COLLECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION PROCESS, DETAILING FEEDSTOCK SELECTION AND BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES.
The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a"," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", "third", and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining "first" and "second" may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The invention introduces a comprehensive waste valorization system that converts diverse waste types into renewable resources using synthetic biology and genetic engineering. The process begins with waste collection and characterization, where various waste materials-such as agricultural residues, food waste, and industrial by-products-are collected and analyzed for biochemical composition using advanced techniques like gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. This analysis determines the suitable valorization pathway based on the chemical properties of the feedstock.
Engineered microbial strains play a central role in the conversion process. Using CRISPR-Cas9 and other genetic engineering tools, specific genes are edited or introduced to enhance the metabolic pathways of microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast. These microorganisms are tailored to metabolize specific substrates, efficiently converting them into biofuels (e.g., ethanol, butanol) or biochemicals (e.g., organic acids, solvents). The modified strains are cultured in a controlled environment to ensure stability and high yield, with optimized pathways designed to maximize product formation while minimizing energy consumption.
The bioconversion processes include fermentation and anaerobic digestion, which vary depending on the feedstock composition and desired output. In fermentation, the engineered microorganisms convert the organic waste into biofuels or biochemicals under specific conditions of temperature, pH, and nutrient levels. For high-organic content waste, anaerobic digestion is used, producing biogas and nutrient-rich digestate, which can be further processed into organic fertilizers. This dual approach ensures that different waste types can be effectively valorized into high-value products, supporting a circular economy.
The invention's modular system design enables scalability and flexibility. Each module-waste processing, microbial culture, bioconversion, and product recovery-can be independently scaled or adjusted to meet operational needs. The system integrates IoT-based sensors and data analytics, providing real-time monitoring of temperature, pH, and pressure to optimize conditions for microbial activity and product yield. Data collected is processed to ensure efficient resource utilization and enhance process efficiency.
, Claims:1. A method for waste valorization using synthetic biology and genetic engineering, comprising waste collection, microbial strain development, bioconversion, and product recovery.
2. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein engineered microorganisms, developed using CRISPR-Cas9, are tailored to convert specific waste substrates into biofuels and biochemicals.
3. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein gas chromatography and mass spectrometry are employed to characterize the biochemical composition of waste feedstock.
4. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein fermentation and anaerobic digestion processes are utilized based on feedstock type to produce biofuels, biogas, and organic acids.
5. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a modular system design allows for scalability, adapting to various operational needs and waste volumes.
6. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein IoT-based sensors monitor temperature, pH, and other parameters for real-time optimization of the valorization process.
7. A system for waste valorization as claimed in Claim 1, where data analytics software processes monitoring data to enhance conversion efficiency and product quality.
8. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the microbial strains convert lignocellulosic biomass into ethanol or fatty acids using optimized metabolic pathways.
9. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein nutrient-rich digestate produced during anaerobic digestion is further processed into organic fertilizers.

10. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein it promotes a circular economy by converting waste into renewable resources, reducing landfill dependency.

Documents