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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 127 records · Page 7

Conceptual Design for a Dual-Bell Rocket Nozzle System Using a NASA F-15 Airplane as the Flight Testbed

The dual-bell rocket nozzle was first proposed in 1949, offering a potential improvement in rocket nozzle performance over the conventional-bell nozzle. Despite the performance advantages that have been predicted, both analytically and through static test data, the dual-bell nozzle has still not been adequately tested in a relevant flight environment. In 2013 a proposal was constructed that offered a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) F-15 airplane as the flight testbed, with the plan to operate a dual-bell rocket nozzle during captive-carried flight. If implemented, this capability will permit nozzle operation into an external flow field similar to that of a launch vehicle, and facilitate an improved understanding of dual-bell nozzle plume sensitivity to external flow-field effects. More importantly, this flight testbed can be utilized to help quantify the performance benefit with the dual-bell nozzle, as well as to advance its technology readiness level. Toward this ultimate goal, this report provides plans for future flights to quantify the external flow field of the airplane near the nozzle experiment, as well as details on the conceptual design for the dual-bell nozzle cold-flow propellant feed system integration within the NASA F-15 Propulsion Flight Test Fixture. The current study shows that this concept of flight research is feasible, and could result in valuable flight data for the dual-bell nozzle.

nozzle↗

Long-Term Reliability of a Hard-Switched Boost Power Processing Unit Utilizing SiC Power MOSFETs

Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices have demonstrated many performance advantages over their silicon (Si) counterparts. As the inherent material limitations of Si devices are being swiftly realized, wide-band-gap (WBG) materials such as SiC have become increasingly attractive for high power applications. In particular, SiC power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors' (MOSFETs) high breakdown field tolerance, superior thermal conductivity and low-resistivity drift regions make these devices an excellent candidate for power dense, low loss, high frequency switching applications in extreme environment conditions. In this paper, a novel power processing unit (PPU) architecture is proposed utilizing commercially available 4H-SiC power MOSFETs from CREE Inc. A multiphase straight boost converter topology is implemented to supply up to 10 kilowatts full-scale. High Temperature Gate Bias (HTGB) and High Temperature Reverse Bias (HTRB) characterization is performed to evaluate the long-term reliability of both the gate oxide and the body diode of the SiC components. Finally, susceptibility of the CREE SiC MOSFETs to damaging effects from heavy-ion radiation representative of the on-orbit galactic cosmic ray environment are explored. The results provide the baseline performance metrics of operation as well as demonstrate the feasibility of a hard-switched PPU in harsh environments.

Ikpe, Stanley A.↗

Proposed Flight Research of a Dual-Bell Rocket Nozzle Using the NASA F-15 Airplane

For more than a half-century, several types of altitude-compensating rocket nozzles have been proposed and analyzed, but very few have been adequately tested in a relevant flight environment. One type of altitude-compensating nozzle is the dual-bell rocket nozzle, which was first introduced into literature in 1949. Despite the performance advantages that have been predicted, both analytically and through static test data, the dual-bell nozzle has still not been adequately tested in a relevant flight environment. This paper proposes a method for conducting testing and research with a dual-bell rocket nozzle in a flight environment. We propose to leverage the existing NASA F-15 airplane and Propulsion Flight Test Fixture as the flight testbed, with the dual-bell nozzle operating during captive-carried flights, and with the nozzle subjected to a local flow field similar to that of a launch vehicle. The primary objective of this effort is not only to advance the technology readiness level of the dual-bell nozzle, but also to gain a greater understanding of the nozzle mode transitional sensitivity to local flow-field effects, and to quantify the performance benefits with this technology. The predicted performance benefits are significant, and may result in reducing the cost of delivering payloads to low-Earth orbit.

Jones, Daniel S.↗

Proposed Flight Research of a Dual-Bell Rocket Nozzle Using the NASA F-15 Airplane

For more than a half-century, several types of altitude-compensating rocket nozzles have been proposed and analyzed, but very few have been adequately tested in a relevant flight environment. One type of altitude-compensating nozzle is the dual-bell rocket nozzle, which was first introduced into literature in 1949. Despite the performance advantages that have been predicted, both analytically and through static test data, the dual-bell nozzle has still not been adequately tested in a relevant flight environment. This paper proposes a method for conducting testing and research with a dual-bell rocket nozzle in a flight environment. We propose to leverage the existing NASA F-15 airplane and Propulsion Flight Test Fixture as the flight testbed, with the dual-bell nozzle operating during captive-carried flights, and with the nozzle subjected to a local flow field similar to that of a launch vehicle. The primary objective of this effort is not only to advance the technology readiness level of the dual-bell nozzle, but also to gain a greater understanding of the nozzle mode transitional sensitivity to local flow-field effects, and to quantify the performance benefits with this technology. The predicted performance benefits are significant, and may result in reducing the cost of delivering payloads to low-Earth orbit.

Jones, Daniel S.↗

Proposed Flight Research of a Dual-Bell Rocket Nozzle Using the NASA F-15 Airplane

For more than a half-century, several types of altitude-compensating rocket nozzles have been proposed and analyzed, but very few have been adequately tested in a relevant flight environment. One type of altitude-compensating nozzle is the dual-bell rocket nozzle, which was first introduced into literature in 1949. Despite the performance advantages that have been predicted, both analytically and through static test data, the dual-bell nozzle has still not been adequately tested in a relevant flight environment. This presentation proposes a method for conducting testing and research with a dual-bell rocket nozzle in a flight environment. We propose to leverage the existing NASA F-15 airplane and Propulsion Flight Test Fixture as the flight testbed, with the dual-bell nozzle operating during captive-carried flights, and with the nozzle subjected to a local flow field similar to that of a launch vehicle. The primary objective of this effort is not only to advance the technology readiness level of the dual-bell nozzle, but also to gain a greater understanding of the nozzle mode transitional sensitivity to local flow-field effects, and to quantify the performance benefits with this technology. The predicted performance benefits are significant, and may result in reducing the cost of delivering payloads to low-Earth orbit.

rocket↗

Conversion, Stability, and Selectivity Improvements Through Catalyst Development for the Reductive Etherification Reaction

Economical pathways from lignocellulosic non-food biomass feedstocks to biofuels with appropriate fuel properties are necessary for displacing fossil-fuel derived diesel use in medium-/heavy duty vehicles. Oxygenated compounds have recently shown promise due to low sooting tendencies and autoignition properties and molecules with sufficiently high carbon numbers can meet the requisite standards for water solubility and flash point. Coupling waste biomass derived small molecules into bioblendstock targets through the reductive etherification reaction shows potential for increasing molecular weight without losing the advantages of oxygenates. However, the transition to industrial viability for this process is limited by strong catalyst deactivation in typical flow reactor systems. Strong acid resins such as Amberlyst-15 (A-15) show excellent activity in batch reactions but are limited to low temperatures and are poisoned by the side-product, water. In this talk, I will describe our recent work in catalyst synthesis and testing to select superior options with improved aqueous and thermal stability in reductive etherification flow reactions. Water-tolerant solid acid catalysts have potential to improve the conversion and selectivity to the ether target at temperatures above the degradation point of A-15. Analysis techniques such as physisorption, chemisorption, x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy are being used to characterize the active sites. These techniques are also being used to evaluate degradation of the catalyst after extensive flow reactions in addition to comparative efficiency testing with standardized cyclohexene hydrogenation reactions. Finally, I will discuss a demonstration of the full pathway from bio-derived butyric acid to the performance-advantaged ether product and the additional obstacles from side-products and purification limitations in the preliminary upgrading reactions.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Improved oil-off survivability of tapered roller bearings

The aim of this program is to improve the oil-off survivability of a tapered roller bearing when applied to a helicopter transmission, since the tapered bearing has shown a performance advantage in this application. However, the critical roller end-rib conjunction is vulnerable to damage in an oil-off condition. Three powdered metal materials were selected to use as the rib material for oil-off evaluation. These were: M2 steel to a 65% density, CBS 1000M 65% density, and CBS 1000M 75% density. The bearing styles tested were ribbed cone (inner race) and ribbed cup (outer race). Carburized solid CBS 600 was also used as a ribbed material for comparison of oil-off results. The tests were conducted at six speeds from 4000 rpm (0.26 million DN) through 37000 rpm (2.4 million DN).The ribbed cup style bearing achieved longer lives than the ribbed cone style. A standard bearing lasted only 10 minutes at 4000 rpm; however, the 30-min oil-off goal was achieved through 11000 rpm using the survivable ribbed cup bearing. The oil-off lives at 37000 rpm were less than 10 seconds. The grinding of the powder metal materials and surface preparation to achieve an open porosity is extremely critical to the oil-off performance of the powder metal component.

Kreider, Gary E.↗

Improved Performance of Cu(InGa)(SeS) 2 PV Modules Using the Reaction of Metal Precursors. Final Report

This project “Improved Performance of Cu(InGa)(SeS) 2 PV Modules using the Reaction of Metal Precursors” was a partnership led by the Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) at the University of Delaware with Columbia University and the Molecular Foundry at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The aim was to develop pathways to improve Cu(InGa)(SeS) 2 (CIGSS) thin film photovoltaic modules using processes compatible with low manufacturing cost. The CIGSS approach investigated was a two-step process including deposition of metal precursor films following by reaction in hydride gases utilizing IEC’s novel reactor. The process was similar to that under commercial development by the project’s industry partner Stion. When Stion went out of business mid-project the focus changed to a rapid thermal process considered more commercially viable. Approaches to improve the performance of solar cells using the reacted films focused on two material innovations. First, the overall Ga content was increased to increase the operating voltage, which is desirable for scale-up to commercial modules. Second, the processing and performance advantages arising from Ag alloying were investigated. Advanced characterization guided process and material development including control of relative composition gradients. Research on the formation of Cu-Ga-In metal precursors utilized sputtering deposition which is normally used in commercial applications. The work resulted in processes for deposition of precursor stacks with increased relative Ga content and effects of deposition parameters on morphology and phase composition were established. It was shown that the metal precursor films have comparable phase composition and morphology so subsequent reaction follows from the same starting point. The addition of Ag to the metal precursors gave more uniform morphology and improved adhesion of reacted films which enable higher reaction temperature for faster processing. A novel outcome was the discovery of a previously undocumented material phase in sputter-deposited and evaporated Ag-Cu-In-Ga thin films. Hydride gas reaction processes including time-temperature-concentration profiles were developed for different precursor compositions. This enables control of composition profiles to engineer through-film gradients for solar cell optimization with characterization and simulations used to correlate measured film composition profiles to measurements of devices. In particular, the gradient of sulfur at the front of the CIGSS film was found to be critical. The simulations guided process development leading to improved reproducibility of devices improved performance with higher Ga content and higher voltage. With Ag-alloyed precursors, the reaction pathways leading were determined. A significant finding was that Ag-alloying increases the reaction rate to completely convert precursor films to the final chalcopyrite which could enable reduced reaction time to benefit manufacturability. To maintain potential commercial viability, the process under investigation was refocused to a rapid thermal process that could potentially be incorporated into an in-line process for manufacturing. Precursors with different composition were capped with an extra selenium layer and reacted in hydrogen sulfide 5-15 minutes, compared to typically 2 hours in the previous multi-step batch process. Critical RTP parameters were identified to control the reaction. Further optimization would be needed for high efficiency solar cells but pathways to high quality devices with further optimization and improved heating uniformity were developed. The project also developed new optoelectronic characterization approaches with a focus on development and application of spatial- and time-resolved photoluminescence and a custom mapping photoluminescence microscope built. It was shown how critical electronic transport properties strongly depend on the chemical composition of the material and that a wide range of samples show inhomogeneity on a length scale larger than the grains in the films. Additionally, two-photon excitation capability was developed to distinguish bulk vs surface losses. The project advances the state-of-the -art for precursor reaction processes in several ways that could impact manufacturing. This includes validation of approaches to increase voltage and establishment of model-guided control to form optimal composition profiles. The application of process control approaches with knowledge of phase formation and reaction pathways can be critically valuable in designing a large-scale process.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

NASA’s Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Development

The Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine has maintained steady development at NASA with many staggering performance advantages demonstrated to date over the state-of-the-art (SOA). The implementation of additive manufacturing and specialized NASA developed alloys have enabled rapid maturation of the technology. Several hot fire test projects have been successfully conducted at Marshall Space Flight Center under an early career initiative project funded by NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate. In addition, a new start Technology Demonstration Mission (TDM) project has been funded to investigate challenges relating to integration of turbomachinery with an RDRE thrust chamber assembly. This engine system demonstration will leverage a methane/oxygen single shaft turbopump with fuel rich gas generator and a 10,000 lbf thrust chamber assembly. The configuration was down selected based on feedback from both US industry collaborators and power balance trades in combination with technical feasibility. To date, industry has identified several use cases for RDRE ranging from thruster to primary launch vehicle propulsion. A wide range of fuel and oxidizers were also identified including but not limited to Methane, Kerosene and other liquid hydrocarbon (LH) fuels, and hydrogen. Recent work at NASA and in partnership with NASA has investigated these major fuels of interest with oxygen, air, and hydrogen peroxide (HTP) for various applications. NASA Marshall has already investigated the use of hydrogen/oxygen, methane/oxygen, kerosene/oxygen, and has plans in partnership with industry and academia to investigate LH/air and LH/HTP. In addition to propellants, hardware geometry has been investigated with some critical lessons learned toward greater theoretical performance over the SOA. To this end, several experimental and computational activities are ongoing to further advance the RDRE towards flight missions. Given the rate of advancement, it is highly likely the technology will be flown in space mission in the coming decade. This work documents and overviews many of these investigations and overviews NASA’s future plans for the technology maturation.

Thomas Teasley↗

Engineering B-ketoadipic Acid Production in Pseudomonas putida KT2440: Cooperative Research and Development (Final Report)

We propose a 2-year project to enable commercialization of an Agile Biofoundry (ABF) related, performance-advantaged bioproduct, B-ketoadipic acid (BKA), in an ABF-relevant, industrially-relevant host, Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Informed by techno-economic analysis (TEA), our BKA production goals are to enable a 40 g/L titer, 0.5 g/L/h productivity, and a 40% molar yield from hydrolysate sugars at the 1 kg scale. This material will be used to produce BKA-nylons.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Structural and Chemical Evolution of Highly Fluorinated Li‐Rich Disordered Rocksalt Oxyfluorides as a Function of Temperature

Abstract Li‐rich disordered rocksalt (DRS) oxyfluorides have emerged as promising high‐energy cathode materials for lithium‐ion batteries. While a high level of fluorination in DRS materials offers performance advantages, it can only be achieved via mechanochemical synthesis, which poses challenges of reproducibility and scalability. The definition of relationships between fluorination and structural stability is required to devise alternative methods that overcome these challenges. In this study, the thermal evolution of three highly fluorinated phases, Li 2 TMO 2 F (TM = Mn, Co, and Ni), is investigated in an inert atmosphere. Diffraction and spectroscopic techniques are utilized to examine their electronic and chemical states up until conditions of decomposition. The analysis reveals that the materials phase‐separate above 400 °C, at most. It is also observed that heat‐treated DRS materials exhibit intricate changes in the local coordination of the metals, including their spin, and ordering compared to the pristine states. The changes upon annealing are accompanied by a modulation of the voltage profile, including reduced hysteresis, when used as electrodes. These results provide an in‐depth understanding of the fundamental crystal chemistry of DRS oxyfluorides in view of their promising role as the next generation of Li‐ion cathodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Robust Spectral Anomaly Detection in EELS Spectral Images via 3D Convolutional Variational Autoencoders

Abstract A 3D Convolutional Variational Autoencoder (3D‐CVAE) is introduced for automated anomaly detection in electron energy‐loss spectroscopy spectrum imaging (EELS‐SI) data. This approach leverages the full 3D structure of EELS‐SI data to detect subtle spectral anomalies while preserving both spatial and spectral correlations across the datacube. By employing cross‐entropy loss and training on bulk spectra, the model learns to reconstruct bulk features characteristic of the defect‐free material. In exploring methods for anomaly detection, both the 3D‐CVAE approach and principal component analysis (PCA) are evaluated, testing their performance using FeL‐edge ΔEpeak shifts designed to simulate material defects. These results show that 3D‐CVAE achieves superior anomaly detection and maintains consistent performance across various shift magnitudes. The method demonstrates clear bimodal separation between bulk and anomalous spectra, enabling reliable classification. Further analysis verifies that lower‐dimensional representations are robust to anomalies in the data. While performance advantages over PCA diminish with decreasing anomaly concentration, our method maintains high reconstruction quality even in challenging, noise‐dominated spectral regions. This approach provides a robust framework for unsupervised automated detection of spectral anomalies in EELS‐SI data, particularly valuable for analyzing complex material systems.

Chemistry↗

Conceptual design of HTS magnets for fusion nuclear science facility

Second-generation high temperature superconductors (HTS) are available for producing >20 T at the magnet bore compared to 13–16 T for lower temperature superconducting (LTS) toroidal field magnets proposed in recent fusion energy systems studies (FESS) of Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF). HTS may enable higher fusion power density and smaller device size. High current density cables of multi-layered REBCO tapes have achieved >10 kA at 4–20 K operation in short sample tests for fusion. High current density cables are required for engineering design of FNSF to allow space for interior plasma components. High current density HTS magnets are particularly attractive in reducing the size of a fusion device, beneficial for compact tokamaks, due to their space constraints. Successful HTS magnet development may enable the design of smaller and cheaper fusion pilot plants with a mission of demonstrating net electricity. It may also offer significant cost and performance advantages in non-fusion applicants such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, we developed HTS magnet design concepts for a compact FNSF radial build in order to define the coil size, winding pack mechanical loading and engineering requirements. Partnering with vendors in the US, PPPL is also testing high current cable prototypes aiming at enabling low cost cable technology toward 100 A/mm 2 engineering current density over the winding pack desired in high field model coil development for compact fusion pilot plants.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

In planta production of the nylon precursor beta-ketoadipate

Beta-ketoadipate (βKA) is an intermediate of the βKA pathway involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds in several bacteria and fungi. Beta-ketoadipate also represents a promising chemical for the manufacturing of performance-advantaged nylons. We established a strategy for the in planta synthesis of βKA via manipulation of the shikimate pathway and the expression of bacterial enzymes from the βKA pathway. Using Nicotiana benthamiana as a transient expression system, we demonstrated the efficient conversion of protocatechuate (PCA) to βKA when plastid-targeted bacterial-derived PCA 3,4-dioxygenase (PcaHG) and 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconate cycloisomerase (PcaB) were co-expressed with 3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (AroG) and 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase (QsuB). This metabolic pathway was reconstituted in Arabidopsis by introducing a construct (pAtβKA) with stacked pcaG, pcaH, and pcaB genes into a PCA-overproducing genetic background that expresses AroG and QsuB (referred as QsuB-2). The resulting QsuB-2 x pAtβKA stable lines displayed βKA titers as high as 0.25 % on a dry weight basis in stems, along with a drastic reduction in lignin content and improvement of biomass saccharification efficiency compared to wild-type controls, and without any significant reduction in biomass yields. Using biomass sorghum as a potential crop for large-scale βKA production, techno-economic analysis indicated that βKA accumulated at titers of 0.25 % and 4 % on a dry weight basis could be competitively priced in the range of $2.04-34.49/kg and $0.47-2.12/kg, respectively, depending on the selling price of the residual biomass recovered after βKA extraction. This study lays the foundation for a more environmentally-friendly synthesis of βKA using plants as production hosts.

Kazaz, Sami↗

Investigation of oxygen evolution reaction with Ni foam and stainless-steel mesh electrodes in alkaline seawater electrolysis

We report alkaline seawater electrolysis is a promising method for hydrogen production; however, little progress has been made in investigating the substrates for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts. Ni foam and stainless-steel mesh (SS mesh) were investigated systematically for OER in alkaline seawater electrolysis in this work. The overpotentials and Tafel slopes with SS meshes are smaller than Ni foams, and it also exhibits excellent stability. Interestingly, the performance of the SS mesh even outperforms various non-noble metal electrocatalysts and is comparable to commercial RuO2 and IrO2. The corrosion conditions of Ni foam and SS mesh electrodes were studied and revealed. Furthermore, the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of Ni foam is 12 times higher than SS mesh in the same geometric area, indicating the electrochemical activity of SS mesh is much superior to Ni foam. This work expands on promising substrates for alkaline seawater electrolysis, with cost and performance advantages.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Investigation of oxygen evolution reaction with 316 and 304 stainless-steel mesh electrodes in natural seawater electrolysis

Here, two commercially available stainless steel mesh substrates (316 SS and 304 SS) were evaluated as electrodes for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in natural seawater electrolysis. The results show the 304 SS is less stable against corrosion under neutral (pH of 8.5) and low alkaline (0.1 M NaOH, pH of 12.8) seawater electrolytes because of the direct metal dissolution and chlorine evolution reaction (CER), and the 316 SS is superior to 304 SS in terms of electrocatalytic activity and resistance to corrosion under the same media. The performance of 304 SS is comparable to 316 SS under the high alkaline (1 M NaOH, pH of 13.7) seawater electrolyte, where the CER and metal dissolution are suppressed by OER. The overpotential for 304 and 316 SS is around 430 mV at 10 mA cm -2 , and the Tafel slopes are below 50 mV dec -1 under the high alkaline (1 M NaOH) seawater electrolyte, showing promising performance. The poor resistance to corrosion of 304 SS is attributed to the low Mo content, and it is supposed that the stability of both 304 and 316 SS can be improved further with the addition of Mo content. This work expands on promising substrates for natural seawater electrolysis, with cost and performance advantages.

Stainless-steel mesh↗

Continuous hydrodeoxygenation of lignin to jet-range aromatic hydrocarbons

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is essential to decrease the carbon footprint of the aviation industry. Although many strategies have been developed to provide the branched, aliphatic components of SAF, few viable strategies have been demonstrated to supply the aromatic and cycloalkane fraction of SAF at the necessary scale from bio-based feedstocks. Lignin is the largest natural source of renewable aromatic compounds, yet major challenges in deoxygenation have prevented its use as a feedstock for SAF. Here we report a continuous, two-stage catalytic process using molybdenum carbide to deoxygenate lignin from poplar into aromatic hydrocarbons with 87.5% selectivity towards aromatic hydrocarbons at 86% of the theoretical carbon recovery. This work demonstrates an effective approach to convert lignin into aromatic SAF blendstocks.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Dynamic and single cell characterization of a CRISPR-interference toolset in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 for β-ketoadipate production from p -coumarate

We report Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is a well-studied bacterium for the conversion of lignin-derived aromatic compounds to bioproducts. The development of advanced genetic tools in P. putida has reduced the turnaround time for hypothesis testing and enabled the construction of strains capable of producing various products of interest. Here, we evaluate an inducible CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) toolset on fluorescent, essential, and metabolic targets. Nuclease-deficient Cas9 (dCas9) expressed with the arabinose (8K)-inducible promoter was shown to be tightly regulated across various media conditions and when targeting essential genes. In addition to bulk growth data, single cell time lapse microscopy was conducted, which revealed intrinsic heterogeneity in knockdown rate within an isoclonal population. The dynamics of knockdown were studied across genomic targets in exponentially-growing cells, revealing a universal 1.75 ± 0.38 hour quiescent phase after induction where 1.5 ± 0.35 doublings occur before a phenotypic response is observed. To demonstrate application of this CRISPRi toolset, β-ketoadipate, a monomer for performance-advantaged nylon, was produced at a 4.39 ± 0.5 g/L and yield of 0.76 ± 0.10 mol/mol from p-coumarate, a hydroxycinnamic acid that can be derived from grasses. These cultivation metrics were achieved by using the higher strength IPTG (1K)-inducible promoter to knockdown the pcaIJ operon in the βKA pathway during early exponential phase. This allowed the majority of the carbon to be shunted into the desired product while eliminating the need for a supplemental carbon and energy source to support growth and maintenance.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗