Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

Experimental Protocol for Biodiesel Production with Isolation of Alkenones as Coproducts from Commercial Isochrysis Algal Biomass
Published on: June 24, 2016
Microbial synthesis of n-butanol, isobutanol, and other higher alcohols from diverse resources
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Abstract:
Microbial production of fuel and chemical feedstock is a promising approach to solving energy and environmental problems. n-Butanol, isobutanol and other higher alcohols are of particular interest because they can serve as both fuel and chemical feedstock. Alternative resources such as CO2, syngas, waste protein, and lignocellulose are currently being investigated for their potential to produce these compounds. Except for lignocellulose, utilization of such alternative resource has not been examined extensively. This review aims to summarize the development of metabolic pathways for efficient synthesis of these higher alcohols and the current status of microbial strain development for the conversion of diverse resources into higher alcohols.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
Microbes in Beverage Production
Biofuels
Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes

