Co-cultivation of anaerobic methanogens with aerobic methanotrophs in a bio-electrochemical 200% cell (CoMet2)

Global challenges such as rising CO₂ emissions, the finite nature of fossil raw materials and the transition to renewable energies require new and efficient processes for the production of chemicals, e. g. for pharmaceuticals or biofuels. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a promising technology for converting CO₂ into chemical products. What makes MES special is its high energy efficiency of over 80 % when converting electricity into chemicals.

The aim of the CoMet2 project is to develop an electrobiotechnological 200 % cell (coupled bioelectrosynthesis). This cell is characterized by the fact that valuable products are produced both at the anode and at the cathode. In conventional electrochemical systems, a usable product is usually only produced at one electrode. The team, which is made up of experts in microbiology, bioinformatics, electrochemical process engineering and bioprocess engineering, is developing an integrated reaction concept. An artificial co-culture of microorganisms is cultivated in this concept. This consists of two types of microorganism (methanogens and methanotrophs) that require different conditions (anaerobic and aerobic). Methanogens convert CO₂ into methane. Methanotrophs then convert this methane into valuable chemicals. This conversion would enable a new type of sustainable bioproduction that reduces CO₂ and replaces fossil raw materials.

Prof. Dr. Dirk Holtmann and Prof. Dr. Anne-Kristin Kaster from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Prof. Dr. Roland Ulber from the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) are conducting research on this.