Twelve years ago we discovered that some bacteria could convert CO2 to various chemicals using green electricity as the only source of energy. Now, the challenge is to harness the power of this microbial electrochemical technology, for which we develop solid electrodes covered with a biofilm layer consisting of a mix of micro-organisms.
There is great industrial demand for alcohols – as fuel, solvent, and as a renewable precursor for various other products. Our first goal within the Zero Emission Biotechnology research programme therefore is to develop a microbial electrosynthesis system for the conversion of CO2 into ethanol, and other alcohols. We will start by engineering our microbial community to mainly produce alcohol as a reaction product, and then optimise operating conditions as well as electrode and reactor design for an efficient, continuous process. If we gain full control over this process, we can provide future generations with a fully circular way of creating renewable alcohols.
Ludovic Jourdin, Associate Professor
Expertise:
Microbial electrosynthesis for power-to-x