Microbial Electrosynthesis Reactor for CO2 Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for synthesizing organic molecules from renewable carbon sources, such as CO2 and H2, face challenges in achieving high kinetics and yield, particularly in fulfilling health and food regulatory requirements for the separation of organic molecules from organic waste, and require optimization for industrial-scale implementation.
Innovation Solution
A catalytic process involving anaerobic microorganisms and a solid catalyst in an aqueous medium, where the microorganisms catalyze the reduction of carbon molecules by a hydrogen stream in the presence of a carbon source, enhancing kinetics and yield, and allowing for the production of organic molecules without contamination from organic waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If microbial catalysis is used to convert CO2 and H2 into organic molecules, then conversion potential is improved, but separation from organic waste becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate reactors: a first reactor for microbial electrosynthesis of organic molecules from CO2 and H2, and a second reactor for treating organic waste. This spatial segmentation allows high conversion potential in the first reactor while preventing contamination issues in the second reactor, resolving the contradiction between productivity and waste separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful organic waste is extracted and isolated into a separate treatment system (second reactor with anaerobic digester). By removing the waste stream from the production system, the contradiction between high conversion potential and contamination is resolved, allowing each system to optimize its function independently.
2Reliability
If pure cultures are used for microbial catalysis, then process control is improved, but conversion potential is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges two distinct microbial systems: pure cultures in the first reactor for controlled organic molecule synthesis, and anaerobic digester microorganisms in the second reactor for waste treatment. This combination allows each microbial population to operate at optimal control levels while achieving high overall conversion potential through the integrated system.
3Reliability
If bioraffining processes are used to convert renewable raw materials, then sustainability is improved, but competition with food consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts CO2 (a harmful greenhouse gas) and H2 into valuable organic molecules, transforming environmental problems into economic benefits. This approach achieves sustainability without competing with food production, as it uses non-food renewable resources (CO2 from air or industrial emissions, H2 from water electrolysis) to produce fuels and chemicals.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process significantly increases the kinetics and yield of organic molecule synthesis, ensuring strict isolation of the produced molecules from organic waste, thus meeting regulatory standards and enabling large-scale, sustainable production.
Implementation Method 1
contacting, in an aqueous liquid medium, under anaerobic conditions, at least one source of microorganisms, capable of catalysing the reduction of a carbon molecule by dihydrogen, with at least one hydrogen stream, in the presence of at least one carbon source and at least one solid catalyst
Implementation Method 2
at least one source of microorganisms, capable of catalysing the reduction of a carbon molecule by dihydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for synthesising organic molecules from carbon-containing sources and dihydrogen, as well as a device for implementing the method. The method can make use of carbon-containing sources and/or dihydrogen from renewable resources.