Project description
Hierarchical porous biocatalysts for carbon capture
Carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) technologies are vital for achieving carbon neutrality. Biocatalysis can use CO2 in eco-friendly processes, although its low solubility and stability present challenges. Key reactions include converting CO2 into methanol and methional into L-methionine, with higher CO2 concentrations needed for better yields. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the HEROCO2 project will develop hierarchical porous biocatalysts for improved carbon capture. It will create microporous nanostructured sorbents that form CO2 reservoirs around a macroporous material, supporting immobilised enzyme cascades. Controlling CO2 desorption will maintain high local concentrations for effective reactions at atmospheric pressure. The project will also use eco-friendly deep eutectic solvents (DESs) to enhance CO2 solubility and enzyme activity.
Objective
Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies are considered crucial for reaching carbon neutrality. Biocatalysis could offer sustainable alternatives to utilize emitted CO2 as building block for green industrial processes. However, CO2 low solubility in aqueous media and high stability result in low substrate availability for the enzymes and in thermodynamic limitations. In this project we propose to address two challenging CO2 biotransformations: i) the reduction to methanol; ii) the carboxylation of methional to 4-methylthio-2-oxobutanoate (MOTB), that can be further aminated to give the L-methionine amino acid. However, only high CO2 concentration can lead to high product yield and overcoming thermodynamic limitations. The purpose of the HEROCO2 project is to overcome these limitations through the design of hierarchical porous heterogeneous biocatalysts. The final material will be obtained by the assembly of microporous nanostructured sorbents, deputed to generate reservoirs of CO2 surrounding a macroporous material acting as carrier for the enzyme cascades. CO2 controlled desorption from the micropores is expected to keep high local CO2 concentrations within the macropores where the enzymes are immobilised, allowing out-of-equilibrium reactions under atmospheric pressure conditions. The selected cascades will be immobilized together with the corresponding cofactors, resulting in self-sufficient biocatalysts. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) will be selected as green solvents since they combine high CO2 solubility with the preservation of enzyme activity. The two biocatalytic pathways will be finally tested in continuous flow reactors.
This project could inaugurate new sustainable technological routes for carbon capture and utilization, addressing significant environmental challenges and advancing the field of biocatalysis towards carbon-negative processes by introducing innovative approaches never explored before.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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.
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
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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.
20009 San Sebastian
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.