Photovoltaic-driven microbial protein production can use land and sunlight more efficiently than conventional crops

Population growth and changes in dietary patterns place an ever-growing pressure on the environment. Feeding the world within sustainable boundaries therefore requires revolutionizing the way we harness natural resources. Microbial biomass can be cultivated to yield protein-rich feed and food supplements, collectively termed single-cell protein (SCP). Yet, we still lack a quantitative comparison between traditional agriculture and photovoltaic-driven SCP systems in terms of land use and energetic efficiency. Here, we analyze the energetic efficiency of harnessing solar energy to produce SCP from air and water. Our model includes photovoltaic electricity generation, direct air capture of carbon dioxide, electrosynthesis of an electron donor and/or carbon source for microbial growth (hydrogen, formate, or methanol), microbial cultivation, and the processing of biomass and proteins. We show that, per unit of land, SCP production can reach an over 10-fold higher protein yield and at least twice the caloric yield compared with any staple crop. Altogether, this quantitative analysis offers an assessment of the future potential of photovoltaic-driven microbial foods to supplement conventional agricultural production and support resource-efficient protein supply on a global scale.

Synthetic Methylotrophy in Yeasts: Towards a Circular Bioeconomy

Mitigating climate change is a key driver for the development of sustainable and CO₂-neutral production processes. In this regard, connecting carbon capture and utilization processes to derive microbial C₁ fermentation substrates from CO₂ is highly promising. This strategy uses methylotrophic microbes to unlock next-generation processes, converting CO₂-derived methanol. Synthetic biology approaches in particular can empower synthetic methylotrophs to produce a variety of commodity chemicals. We believe that yeasts have outstanding potential for this purpose, because they are able to separate toxic intermediates and metabolic reactions in organelles. This compartmentalization can be harnessed to design superior synthetic methylotrophs, capable of utilizing methanol and other hitherto largely disregarded C₁ compounds, thus supporting the establishment of a future circular economy.

H2 -free Synthesis of Aromatic, Cyclic and Linear Oxygenates from CO2

The synthesis of oxygenate products, including cyclic ketones and phenol, from carbon dioxide and water in the absence of gas-phase hydrogen has been demonstrated. The reaction takes place in subcritical conditions at 300 °C and pressure at room temperature of 25 barg. This is the first observation of the production of cyclic ketones by this route and represents a step towards the synthesis of valuable intermediates and products, including methanol, without relying on fossil sources or hydrogen, which carries a high carbon footprint in its production by conventional methods. Inspiration for these studies was taken directly from natural processes occurring in hydrothermal environments around ocean vents. Bulk iron and iron oxides were investigated to provide a benchmark for further studies, whereas reactions over alumina and zeolite-based catalysts were employed to demonstrate, for the first time, the ability to use catalyst properties such as acidity and pore size to direct the reaction towards specific products. Bulk iron and iron oxides produced methanol as the major product in concentrations of approximately 2-3 mmol L^-1 . By limiting the hydrogen availability through increasing the initial CO₂ /H₂ O ratio the reaction could be directed to yield phenol. Alumina and zeolites were both observed to enhance the production of longer-chained species (up to C₈ ), likely owing to the role of acid sites in catalysing rapid oligomerisation reactions. Notably, zeolite-based catalysts promoted the formation of cyclic ketones. These proof-of-concept studies show the potential of this process to contribute to sustainable development through either targeting methanol production as part of a "methanol economy" or longer-chained species including phenol and cyclic ketones.

Flexibility Options for Absorption and Distillation to Adapt to Raw Material Supply and Product Demand Uncertainties: A Review

The chemical industry has to deal with increasing uncertainties regarding the boundary conditions of their production processes. On the one hand, uncertainties affect the availability, quality, and prizes of raw material and energy. On the other hand, the demand side is affected by increasing volatilities in product demand and increasing requirements for product variety. These changing boundary conditions lead to higher needs for flexibility in production processes of the chemical industry. Within this article technical solutions for an enhancement of different forms of flexibility are presented for production concepts and apparatus concepts, respectively. The latter focuses on unit operations for the separation of gas–liquid mixtures. This includes a review regarding transformable, modular production processes and a classification of their field of application. Additionally, concepts for named unit operations on different scales are presented and discussed. The presented concepts are also classified with respect to the different types of flexibility.

Carbon cycle in advanced coal chemical engineering

This review summarizes how the carbon cycle occurs and how to reduce CO2 emissions in highly efficient carbon utilization from the most abundant carbon source, coal. Nowadays, more and more attention has been paid to CO2 emissions and its myriad of sources. Much research has been undertaken on fossil energy and renewable energy and current existing problems, challenges and opportunities in controlling and reducing CO2 emission with technologies of CO2 capture, utilization, and storage. The coal chemical industry is a crucial area in the (CO2 value chain) Carbon Cycle. The realization of clean and effective conversion of coal resources, improving the utilization and efficiency of resources, whilst reducing CO2 emissions is a key area for further development and investigation by the coal chemical industry. Under a weak carbon mitigation policy, the value and price of products from coal conversion are suggested in the carbon cycle.

Carbon neutral hydrocarbons

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector may be the most difficult aspect of climate change mitigation. We suggest that carbon neutral hydrocarbons (CNHCs) offer an alternative pathway for deep emission cuts that complement the use of decarbonized energy carriers. Such fuels are synthesized from atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon neutral hydrogen. The result is a liquid fuel compatible with the existing transportation infrastructure and therefore capable of a gradual deployment with minimum supply disruption. Capturing the atmospheric CO2 can be accomplished using biomass or industrial methods referred to as air capture. The viability of biomass fuels is strongly dependent on the environmental impacts of biomass production. Strong constraints on land use may favour the use of air capture. We conclude that CNHCs may be a viable alternative to hydrogen or conventional biofuels and warrant a comparable level of research effort and support.