A comparative life cycle analysis of electromicrobial production systems

Abstract

Electromicrobial production (EMP) processes, in which electricity or electrochemically-derived mediator molecules serve as energy sources to drive biochemical processes, represent an attractive strategy for the conversion of CO2 into carbon-based...

Techno-Economic Assessment of Electromicrobial Production of n-Butanol from Air-Captured CO2

“…Our previous modeling work has also shown that the knallgas bacteria-based system will have a higher productivity than an acetogen-based system when producing biomass or hypothetical products such as industrial enzymes or lactic acid, for similar reasons. 28 Both bioprocess options were then modeled to examine the effect of gas recycling (see Note S8). According to the model, the gases can be substantially recycled (99% of vented gas is recycled) without a decrease in productivity.…”

“…Physical models of EMP, at both molecular and bioreactor levels, have been used to predict their hypothetical performance in terms of metrics such as productivity and energy conversion efficiency. , Leger et al devised a model to study the energy and land occupation footprints in the EMP of single-cell protein . We have recently developed a life cycle impact model to predict the environmental impacts of scaled-up EMP systems, demonstrating their promise from a sustainability perspective . Despite the significant contributions of each of these efforts, there is still a need for robust analyses that can bridge the gap between bench-scale demonstrations and understanding the economics of industrial-scale EMP.…”

Engineering osmolysis susceptibility in Cupriavidus necator and Escherichia coli for recovery of intracellular products

“…A halotolerant strain of C. necator also provides benefits in other areas of electromicrobial production. In particular, we have recently shown through reactor modelling that, for certain products such as lactic acid produced through EMP, effects of salinity-induced toxicity can limit the productivity of bioproduction systems [ 23 ]. Therefore, the halotolerant strain of C. necator evolved here could be useful in improving productivity of systems limited by salinity effects.…”

“…Traditional biochemical systems use crop-derived sugars as microbial substrates and therefore cause social and environmental impacts such as carbon emissions from fertilizer production, nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer application, land use effects, and competition with the food supply [ 21 , 22 ]. EMP systems, however, do not rely on the agricultural system, and, if using a clean electricity source, can lead to a decreased global warming potential and land occupation footprint [ 23 ].…”

Eliminating genes for a two‐component system increases PHB productivity in Cupriavidus basilensis 4G11 under PHB suppressing, nonstress conditions

“…All bioreactor models assume well‐mixed gas and liquid phases that are exchanged at fixed liquid‐ and gas‐phase dilution rates. In the liquid phase, we consider relevant dissolved constituents that can impact bioproduction (Abel et al, 2021): CO 2 , dissolved O 2 , bicarbonate anions (HCO 3 − ), carbonate anions (CO 3 2− ), protons (H + ), hydroxide anions (OH − ), sodium cations (Na + ), chloride anions (Cl − ), acetate anions (H 3 C 2 O 2 − ), acetic acid (H 3 C 2 O 2 H), ammonia (NH 3 ), ammonium cations (NH 4 + ), microbes (X), and PHB (monomer: C 4 H 6 O 2 ).…”