Project description
Optimising syngas fermentation to butanol and hexanol in bioelectrochemical systems
Syngas is a synthetic gas mixture of CO and hydrogen (H2) and often CO2. It is a key product of high-temperature pyrolysis of carbon-rich materials including coal, biomass and waste, and of steam reforming of natural gas. Syngas fermentation can produce butanol and hexanol – valuable compounds used in many sectors – increasing the sustainability of chemical manufacturing. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Bioelectrochemistry project aims to increase the efficiency with which the bacterium Clostridium ljungdahlii ferments syngas. To do so, the team will leverage genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, improved fermentation conditions, and revolutionary bioelectrochemical systems that harness the metabolisms of microorganisms to avoid using precious metal catalysts.
Objective
The production of butanol and hexanol from syngas (CO and CO2) fermentation represents a significant advancement in sustainable chemical manufacturing. This project aims to enhance the efficiency of this process by leveraging the capabilities of Clostridium ljungdahlii, a bacterium known for its robust syngas fermentation capabilities. C. ljungdahlii can convert CO2 into valuable products like butanol and hexanol, but current production levels are limited. Existing research shows that engineered strains of Clostridium can produce butanol at levels of 6–8 g/L from syngas. With ongoing advancements in genetic engineering, these yields are expected to rise to 10 g/L, and potentially up to 20 g/L with further metabolic engineering and optimized fermentation conditions. Similarly, while current hexanol production stands at 1–2 g/L, genetic engineering holds the potential to increase this to 2–3 g/L by enhancing chain elongation and managing acetate accumulation.
The project here focuses on two main objectives: a) optimizing genetic modifications in Clostridium strains and integrating bioelectrochemical systems (BES) to address the current limitations. Genetic engineering efforts will target the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway (WLP), a crucial metabolic route for converting CO2 and CO into acetate. By knocking out the acoA gene (acetyl-CoA synthetase) and upregulating adhE (alcohol dehydrogenase), we aim to redirect carbon flux from acetate production to alcohol synthesis. Additionally, utilizing BES will help mitigate acetate toxicity and enhance product yields through electrochemical stimulation, which improves cellular redox metabolism and supports the conversion of excess acetate into butanol (C4) and hexanol (C6). In effect, this combined approach will increase the production of multi-carbon chemicals in the system, which will provide new insights and improved efficiency in BES for increased CO2 fixation and bioconversion.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology bioprocessing technologies fermentation
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
412 96 Goteborg
Sweden
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