Electrobiocatalytic Production of Chemicals, Fuels and Food Proteins - X4
X4 will use highly selective reactions, similar to those catalyzed by metalloenzymes, and develop new electrocatalysts made from earth-abundant metals. These will be used as catalysts in new technologies to convert renewable resources, such as air and biomass, into important chemicals like methanol.
The main challenge X4 seeks to address is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and chemical waste from industrial chemical plants that rely on fossil fuels. It also aims to minimize the use of large quantities of costly and hazardous chemicals currently required for these processes.
X4 seeks to solve this by developing selective electrocatalytic methods to reduce CO2 into methanol, which then can be used to produce fuels, food proteins, pharmaceuticals, and plastic products. X4 will also investigate other processes, such as methods to reduce O2 (from air) to H2O2 or H2O, to offer a cheaper and more efficient alternative to the anthraquinone process currently used in the industrial production of H2O2.
In collaboration with the research themes and other X-trails, X4 will improve the use of electricity-assisted biocatalysis and hybrid chemo-enzymatic systems, which can potentially replace current industrial chemical procedures, promoting a more sustainable closed-circular economy approach.
New technologies for sustainable carbon cycling are now within reach, and the green transition signals a major change in chemistry. We are moving away from the fossil fuel-based chemistry developed over the last century. Our extensive knowledge of earth-abundant metals and enzymes can help meet this important challenge.