How Microbes Turn Carbon Waste into Useful Chemicals
This patent describes a method using special bacteria called oxyhydrogen microorganisms, specifically Rhodococcus sp., to convert carbon dioxide and other single-carbon compounds into valuable organic chemicals like biofuels.
Original patent title: “Use of oxyhydrogen microorganisms for non-photosynthetic carbon capture and conversion of inorganic and/or C1 carbon sources into useful organic compounds”
This patent describes a method using special bacteria called oxyhydrogen microorganisms, specifically Rhodococcus sp., to convert carbon dioxide and other single-carbon compounds into valuable organic chemicals like biofuels. Granted to Kiverdi in 2015 with 23 claims and 9 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2033.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent outlines a biological and chemical process to capture and convert carbon compounds. It involves introducing an inorganic carbon compound (like carbon dioxide, per claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 2) or a single-carbon organic compound (like carbon monoxide or methane, per claim 8) into a bioreactor. Inside, Rhodococcus sp. microorganisms (as specified in claim 1) perform a chemosynthetic carbon-fixing reaction. This reaction is powered by chemical or electrochemical energy from electron donors and acceptors (claim 1), which can be generated or supplied externally. The microorganisms then build these single-carbon inputs into longer organic chemical products, specifically those with carbon chain lengths between C5 and about C30 (claim 1). For example, industrial waste carbon dioxide could be fed into a bioreactor, and the microbes would convert it into a precursor for a biofuel.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover processes using photosynthetic organisms to fix carbon.
- Does not cover methods that produce organic compounds with carbon chain lengths outside the C5 to C30 range.
- Does not cover carbon conversion methods that do not specifically use Rhodococcus sp. oxyhydrogen microorganisms or their extracts.
- Does not cover processes where the energy for carbon fixation comes solely from light (photosynthesis).
- Does not cover methods that don't rely on externally supplied or generated electron donors and acceptors for energy.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in specifically using Rhodococcus sp. oxyhydrogen microorganisms for chemosynthetic carbon fixation, driven by externally supplied chemical or electrochemical energy, to produce a specific range of longer-chain organic compounds (C5-C30) from simple carbon inputs.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Kiverdi's carbon transformation technology
Companies developing sustainable aviation fuels from CO2
Companies producing protein ingredients from C1 gases
Industrial processes converting syngas into chemicals
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology offers a way to address climate change by capturing carbon emissions and simultaneously creating valuable products. Instead of simply storing carbon, it transforms it into useful chemicals, biofuels, or even food ingredients. This approach can turn industrial waste streams, such as syngas from gasification, into a resource, potentially reducing reliance on fossil fuels for chemical production.
Filed
September 20, 2013
Granted
July 21, 2015
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Kiverdi Inc., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing technologies based on carbon transformation to create sustainable products like protein ingredients and oils. Other companies in the carbon capture and utilization (CCU) space, such as LanzaTech and Twelve, are also working on converting industrial emissions into valuable chemicals and fuels using microbial processes, though potentially with different specific organisms or pathways.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the growing field of carbon capture and utilization, aiming to create a circular carbon economy. It enables the transformation of waste carbon streams into high-value products, potentially reducing the carbon footprint of various industries. This technology can open new markets for sustainable chemicals, materials, and alternative proteins, offering a pathway to decarbonize manufacturing and energy sectors.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent outlines a biological and chemical process to capture and convert carbon compounds. It involves introducing an inorganic carbon compound (like carbon dioxide, per claim 2) or a single-carbon organic compound (like carbon monoxide or methane, per claim 8) into a bioreactor. Inside, Rhodococcus sp. microorganisms (as specified in claim 1) perform a chemosynthetic carbon-fixing reaction. This reaction is powered by chemical or electrochemical energy from electron donors and acceptors (claim 1), which can be generated or supplied externally. The microorganisms then build these single-carbon inputs into longer organic chemical products, specifically those with carbon chain lengths between C5 and about C30 (claim 1). For example, industrial waste carbon dioxide could be fed into a bioreactor, and the microbes would convert it into a precursor for a biofuel.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in specifically using Rhodococcus sp. oxyhydrogen microorganisms for chemosynthetic carbon fixation, driven by externally supplied chemical or electrochemical energy, to produce a specific range of longer-chain organic compounds (C5-C30) from simple carbon inputs.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover processes using photosynthetic organisms to fix carbon.
- Does not cover methods that produce organic compounds with carbon chain lengths outside the C5 to C30 range.
- Does not cover carbon conversion methods that do not specifically use Rhodococcus sp. oxyhydrogen microorganisms or their extracts.
- Does not cover processes where the energy for carbon fixation comes solely from light (photosynthesis).
- Does not cover methods that don't rely on externally supplied or generated electron donors and acceptors for energy.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
20/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$234K – $749K
Midpoint $468K · 7.0 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Reed, J. S., & Dyson, L. (2015). How Microbes Turn Carbon Waste into Useful Chemicals (U.S. Patent No. 9,085,785). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9085785/use-of-oxyhydrogen-microorganisms-for-non-photosynthetic-carbon-capture-and-conv
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Microbes Turn Carbon Waste into Useful Chemicals cover?
This patent describes a method using special bacteria called oxyhydrogen microorganisms, specifically Rhodococcus sp., to convert carbon dioxide and other single-carbon compounds into valuable organic chemicals like biofuels.
Who owns patent US 9085785?
Kiverdi owns this patent, granted in 2015.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 20, 2033, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9085785 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 9 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology offers a way to address climate change by capturing carbon emissions and simultaneously creating valuable products. Instead of simply storing carbon, it transforms it into useful chemicals, biofuels, or even food ingredients. This approach can turn industrial waste streams, such as syngas from gasification, into a resource, potentially reducing reliance on fossil fuels for chemical production.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover processes using photosynthetic organisms to fix carbon.
Patent monitoring