Background
CO₂ can be converted to useful chemicals and fuels using renewable power for CCU applications. The state-of-the-art for converting CO₂ to value added chemicals (X) are catalytic conversions at high temperature and pressure that are suited for large-scale applications. At smaller scale it is possible through biochemical processes that can intake diverse sources of CO₂ and small-scale off-grid renewable power to convert CO₂ to biomethane that can be further converted to bioplastics and precursors. Alternatively, CO₂ can also be converted to acetic acid using acetogens.

Depending on the source, the CO₂ stream might contain impurities and trace elements that are depleting the biomethanation reaction. For example, NH₃, halogenated compounds, cyanides, and heavy metals are known toxins why it is, for both PtX – and biochemical process, imperative to establish upper limits for these impurities and trace elements to establish the validity of biomethanation.

Objectives
The project will develop PtX based biochemical processes for CCU using diverse CO₂ sources and small-scale off-grid renewable power. This project will establish biomethanation as platform to capture diverse CO₂ sources and develop further processing of methane into precursors for bioplastics for CCU. The project will also establish the alternative route of acetic acid production for diverse CO₂ sources.

Expected results

1. Develop a biomethanation reactor technology for diverse CO₂ sources, including biogas, using PtX.
2. Identify suitable microbes for acetic acid production and develop a suitable process design based on lab-scale experimental work.
3. Develop a lab-scale demo of acetic acid production for further upscale and optimization.
4. Develop a lab-scale demonstration of biomethane fermentation to precursors of bioplastics.