ENANAMMIC-BIOF · Engineering Anaerobic Mixed Microbial Communities for Biofuels Production
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2010-01-05 → 2013-01-04
- EU contribution
- €45,000
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MC-ERG
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Engineering Anaerobic Mixed Microbial Communities for Biofuels Production
After early termination of the project, a quantitative mathematical model to describe and control the formation of products by mixed microbial fermentation of glucose (or other carbohydrates) has been produced. The model is currently in its last stages prior to publication and it will provide a valuable tool for directing the process towards the production of high value energy carriers, like hydrogen, ethanol and butanol. The potential and feasibility of bioelectrochemically assisted reduction of organic acids into alcohols like ethanol and butanol was assessed both theoretically and to a preliminary stage also experimentally in coordination with other research activities at the host univeristy. No positive results were experimentally obtained despite the theretical possitive predictions. The modelling integration of the fermentation and bioelectrochemical processed remains to be conducted and it is likely it will take place through similar research projects that built on the experience attained thorugh this one.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
A European reintegration grant is proposed to conduct a 3-year research project aiming at the development of sustainable processes for the conversion of carbohydrate rich feedstock into valuable biofuels (like hydrogen, methane, ethanol, butanol) using microorganisms in anaerobic reactors with the following two main objectives: (i) The development of trustable quantitative models to describe and control product formation from anaerobic mixed culture fermentation of glucose based on metabolic modelling and bioenergetics; (ii) The evaluation of the potential and feasibility of bioelectrochemically assisted reduction of organic acids into alcohols like ethanol and butanol by supplying power to a biocathode to facilitate the process. To achieve these objectives, experiments will be carried out together with mathematical modelling integrating fermentation bioenergetics and bioelectrochemical systems. Research results in this area can largely contribute to energy independence from fossil fuels in Europe by progressing towards the feasible large scale production of biofuels from abundant carbohydrate feedstock using open mixed microbial cultures and therefore avoiding sterilisation through the process. The applicant researcher has an excellent track record on mathematical modelling of anaerobic fermentations and of bioelectrochemical systems. These skills will enable the integration of both modelling approaches and its combination with experimental work. The project will be conducted in the Group of Environmental Engineering and Bioprocesses (GEEB) at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) by the researcher and an assistant funded by this grant. The grant will highly benefit the researcher’s career by providing him with very valuable funding to develop his own research ideas, manage a project and supervise a student, all fundamental skills in a researcher focused career. The reintegration grant will also act as incentive for his permanent employment by the host.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA · Santiago De CompostelaCoordinatorSpain
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union