Production of Bio-alkanes from Biomass and CO2

Richen Lin; Chen Deng; Wuyuan Zhang; Frank Hollmann; Jerry D Murphy

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.12.004

Production of Bio-alkanes from Biomass and CO₂

Trends Biotechnol. 2021 Apr;39(4):370-380. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.12.004. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

Authors

Richen Lin¹, Chen Deng², Wuyuan Zhang³, Frank Hollmann⁴, Jerry D Murphy⁵

Affiliations

¹ MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Engineering, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
² MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Engineering, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: chen.deng@ucc.ie.
³ Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China. Electronic address: zhangwy@tib.cas.cn.
⁴ Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
⁵ MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Engineering, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: jerry.murphy@ucc.ie.

PMID: 33451822
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.12.004

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical technologies such as electro-fermentation and microbial CO₂ electrosynthesis are emerging interdisciplinary technologies that can produce renewable fuels and chemicals (such as carboxylic acids). The benefits of electrically driven bioprocesses include improved production rate, selectivity, and carbon conversion efficiency. However, the accumulation of products can lead to inhibition of biocatalysts, necessitating further effort in separating products. The recent discovery of a new photoenzyme, capable of converting carboxylic acids to bio-alkanes, has offered an opportunity for system integration, providing a promising approach for simultaneous product separation and valorisation. Combining the strengths of photo/bio/electrochemical catalysis, we discuss an innovative circular cascading system that converts biomass and CO₂ to value-added bio-alkanes (C_nH_2n+2, n = 2 to 5) whilst achieving carbon circularity.

Keywords: bio-alkanes; cascading circular biosystems; electro-fermentation; microbial CO(2) electrosynthesis; photo-biocatalysis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Alkanes* / metabolism
Biomass*
Carbon Dioxide* / metabolism
Catalysis
Electrochemistry*

Substances

Alkanes
Carbon Dioxide