Periodic Reporting for period 2 - VIVALDI (innoVative bIo-based chains for CO2 VALorisation as aDded-value organIc acids)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-12-01 bis 2024-05-31
VIVALDI proposes an innovative integrated biotechnological solution for the conversion of off-gas emissions into CO2-based chemicals. A multidisciplinary consortium of 16 partners from 9 EU countries representing technology developers, bio-based industries (BIs), end-users and knowledge hubs is working together to present BIs with an opportunity to shift towards circular economy by turning their CO2 emissions into added-value products, which can be again utilised e.g. as raw materials in the production of biomaterials. VIVALDI uses real off-gas emissions from four key BI sectors (Pulp & Paper, Food & Drinks, Bioethanol and Biochemicals) to produce 4 industrially relevant organic acids with different applications and market penetration: lactic acid (LA), succinic acid (SA), itaconic acid (IA) and 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP). After capturing the CO2 from industrial off-gas streams, it will be electrochemically converted to methanol (MeOH) and formic acid (FA), which can serve as feedstocks for the bioproduction of the targeted acids. The acid production is carried out by a microbial fermentation process with specific engineered yeast strains of Pichia pastoris. Nutrients required for the bioproduction are recovered from the wastewaters using microbial electrochemical technologies, in which microorganisms are catalyzing electrochemical reactions . The individual technologies will be first optimized and the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to methanol and formic acid will then be integrated to the bioproduction step making it possible to produce added-value compounds from CO2 in the same environment. Finally, after custom-made downstream processing, the organic acids will be industrially benchmarked to ensure that they comply with current industrial standards. The benefits of VIVALDI’s implementation will be quantified with a comprehensive sustainability and circularity assessment (technical, environmental and socio-economic). To alleviate the adoption of VIVALDI’s solutions, market opportunities and regulation bottlenecks for the early adoption will be identified.
During the first 36 months of the project, CO2 has been captured with a maximum of 62-64% CO2 recovery during absorption with an CA:MDEA hybrid solvent at optimized conditions. The CO2 has been electrochemically reduced to methanol and formic acid. Formic acid production was achieved over 1400 h using Sn-GDE with coulombic efficiency (CE) of 70-75%. A larger-scale reactor has been designed (GDE of 400 cm2) which is currently being tested.For the recovery of nutrients, bioelectrochemical reactors have been designed. Continuous ammonium recovery from a high N-strength synthetic wastewater has been achieved with ammonium recovery rates above 50 g N/m2/d at outlet concentrations higher than 6 g N/L. A recovery effluent with different anions (phosphoric, nitric and sulfate) and different pHs has been obtained. A novel biolelectroconcentration reactor has been designed and built with successful results. Bioproduction of organic acids has been studied by integrating the pathways for LA, IA, SA and 3-HP production into a strain of the industrial yeast Pichia pastoris. The production of the 4 acids has reached a TRL=4 during this period. The titers of the acids has been increased after successful strain and process engineering techniques up to 17 g/L (LA), 55 g/L (IA) and 49 g/L (3-HP). The production of SA has been combined with the production of fumaric and malic acids and a sum of 75 g/L obtained. Workplan has been demonstrated for the downstream processing and industrial validation of the products. The theoretical design of purification routes through thermodynamic models for the 4 products is currently experimentally validated with successful results, particularly in the crystallisation and filtration steps.
In addition, a methodology compass has been developed for the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment that will be used to comprehensive evaluate the environmental (via LCA), techno-economic (via LCC) and social (via social-LCA) aspects of VIVALDI solutions. The system boundary diagram of each technology has been defined and a strategical roadmap towards prospective assessment of low-TRL technologies based on laboratory-scale data. A Life Cycle Inventory based on the mass and energy inputs and outputs has been the basis of the a first Life Cycle Assessment of each technology. A Social Hotspot Screening of homologous sectors and locations and an analysis of the circularity potential of residual heat and material flows within the VIVALDI scheme is currently performed
The exploitable results are actively assessed and the development of business models and the post-project exploitation roadmaps is active. 53 exploitable results have been categorised into three types of results – technologies, products and knowledge and their exploitation routes identified and prioritised. The design of the business models post-project exploitation roadmaps and the definition of the key market opportunities carried is on-going.
The vision of VIVALDI has been shared via active dissemination and communication, as the consortium has published nearly 20 scientific articles. A short animation presenting the VIVALDI project has also been launched and is available here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u658_V1vasg(öffnet in neuem Fenster)).
In addition, a methodology compass has been developed for the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment that will be used to comprehensive evaluate the environmental (via LCA), techno-economic (via LCC) and social (via social-LCA) aspects of VIVALDI solutions. The system boundary diagram of each technology has been defined and a strategical roadmap towards prospective assessment of low-TRL technologies based on laboratory-scale data. A Life Cycle Inventory based on the mass and energy inputs and outputs has been the basis of the a first Life Cycle Assessment of each technology. A Social Hotspot Screening of homologous sectors and locations and an analysis of the circularity potential of residual heat and material flows within the VIVALDI scheme is currently performed
The exploitable results are actively assessed and the development of business models and the post-project exploitation roadmaps is active. 53 exploitable results have been categorised into three types of results – technologies, products and knowledge and their exploitation routes identified and prioritised. The design of the business models post-project exploitation roadmaps and the definition of the key market opportunities carried is on-going.
The vision of VIVALDI has been shared via active dissemination and communication, as the consortium has published nearly 20 scientific articles. A short animation presenting the VIVALDI project has also been launched and is available here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u658_V1vasg(öffnet in neuem Fenster)).
VIVALDI is developing breakthrough technologies for the conversion of CO2 into added-value chemicals and it is aiming to be a pioneer in triggering off the transformation of current biorefineries into plants with negative GHG emissions. The advances made will drive the increase of the technology readiness level (TRL) of the technologies from 3 up to 5. The VIVALDI concept is expected to set the path towards the implementation of a new CO2-based industrial sector that is environmentally and economically competitive with the current fossil-based alternatives, fostering the transition into carbon negative economy. We envisage that the VIVALDI approach can be extended also either to other bioproducts or to other industry sectors, creating new value chains for the CO2 utilisation sector. VIVALDI will also boost cooperation within strategic partners —major emitters, technology adopters and end-users of bio-based products—with tailor-made communication activities. The integration of the CO2 reduction and bioproduction processes in a novel single-reactor methodology is expected to minimise potential C1s losses and to increase the fermentation productivity. Nutrients required for the fermentation will be recovered from industrial wastewaters using novel microbial electrochemical technologies for ammonia recovery and cation recovery. Methodologies developed for the downstream processing of the organic acids are focusing on minimizing the addition of chemicals and waste generation. Besides the expected impacts related to the mitigation of GHG emissions and the decrease of the energy demand, VIVALDI will promote industrial symbiosis, fostering efficient and sustainable energy and material reuse and the reduction of environmental footprint of the industries. To ensure that the process is comprehensively evaluated, VIVALDI is tackling the social, economic and institutional/regulatory dimensions of CO2 valorisation and the consortium is actively engaging with multiple societal actors (researchers, industry, policymakers and civil society) and other relevant stakeholders.