ACETOTECH - a novel biotechnological process for flexible and liked production of renewable bioenergy and biochemicals

At present there is an urgent need to change from non-renewable to renewable resources and to produce both biofuels and biochemicals.

In this context the biogas system (AD) is highly relevant as it can be used for production of renewable energy from various organic waste streams.

Moreover, it can balance energy production in case of surpluselectricity from wind and sun power plants by the power-to-gas technology, e g.  conversion of excess electrical power into hydrogen gas, later converted to methane via injection in the biogas process.

This concept has great potential, however, even though promising, several challenges need to be resolved before fully applicable in full-scale.

In the applied project we propose an alternative novel and potentially more robust process (ACETOTECH), possible to integrated in the existing infrastructure for renewable energy production.

This process involves acetogenic bacteria, using hydrogen for reduction of carbon dioxide (and carbon monoxide) while producing acetate. Acetate can in a next step be use for production of energy on demand (biogas) or various biochemicals. In the applied project we will set up, explore and optimized the ACETOTECH process.

We will characterize and study novel acetogens and design a new type of reactor using conductive carrier materials for improved gas conversion and acetate production.

Moreover, we will generate fundamental knowledge on pathways and metabolic stragies used by the acetogens in the process.