The project ran between November 2022 and April 2023.
The concept of Green Cell Factories, climate-neutral and sustainable chemicals, including fuels, from CO2 and solar energy through modified cyanobacteria, has been materialized and developed significantly.
The concept has been visualized at laboratory scale, from solar energy and CO2 to finished product ready for use together with descriptions, calculations and documentation of the process. An overall picture of existing solutions and opportunities for commercialization has been made together with an overview analysis from a sustainability perspective. Previously developed cyanobacteria that form an alcohol from CO2 and solar energy have been grown under controlled conditions with respect to light (solar radiation), CO2/access to carbon, temperature, pH, and mechanical agitation.
Formed alcohol, which freely leaves the biological cells and is found in the culture medium, has been concentrated into a commercial photosynthetic product comparable to the fossil-based product currently on the market. Calculations have identified production and efficiency in current systems as well as what may be needed in future systems. Bottlenecks for both higher production and significantly higher yields have been identified.
Participants
Uppsala University and Desert Ocean Renewable Fuels & Chemicals AB.
Budget & time plan
The project’s total budget is 1 MSEK and the project runs during six months – between November 2022 and April 2023.