Isopropanol production from carbon dioxide in Cupriavidus necator in a pressurized bioreactor.

A bioreactor was designed to provide high gas mass transfer to reach cell and product titres in the g L level from CO for realistic, laboratory scale, engineered autotrophic strain evaluation. The design was based on independent CO, H and air inputs and the ability to operate at high pressures. The bioreactor configuration and cultivation strategy enabled growth of Cupriavidus necator strains for long periods, to reach over 3 g L dry cell weight.