The European project VIVALDI, led by the UAB, has developed an innovative and sustainable way to turn carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from bio-based companies in industries such as the pulp/paper and food sectors into high added-value organic acids, mainly for the chemical industry sector. The biotechnological tools proposed reduce the carbon footprint of industries while simultaneously favours the circularity of production processes, thus paving the way towards a new CO₂-based sector.

A multidisciplinary and international consortium of institutions and companies, led by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), recently presented the results of the VIVALDI project – innoVative bIo-based chains for CO₂ VALorisation as aDded-value organIc acids – of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme at its final meeting, held in Barcelona. The consortium has spent the past four years developing an innovative, sustainable and profitable biotechnological pathway capable of transforming carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from biobased industries into organic compounds for the chemical sector.

Focused on key bioindustry sectors (food, paper, bioethanol and biochemical products), VIVALDI's proposal consists of capturing, purifying and transforming their CO₂ emissions. This has been achieved by combining electrochemical and biotechnological technologies for the production of simple organic compounds (methanol and formic acid) that serve as building blocks for the production of more complex added-value organic acids, currently produced from fossil fuels. The resulting compounds can be used in-situ in the industrial process, improving its sustainability and circularity. It also opens up new business opportunities for biorefineries, as basic components for new biomaterials (e.g. bioplastics) or for complementing animal feed. The integration of the VIVALDI concept in industries would reduce carbon emissions and their dependence on fossil fuels for the production of bioproducts, which currently involves intensive use of key resources such as energy, raw materials, land and water.

The new methodology was validated in a proof of concept in which bioplastic objects (cutlery) and novel animal food additives were obtained. In addition, the project improved the functionalities and performance of the different phases of the process, such as those related to the capturing and purification of CO₂ and its electrochemical reduction to formic acid or methanol. These two compounds are the basis for the synthesis of four more complex organic acids (lactic, itaconic, succinic and 3-hydroxypropionic acids), the production of which has been developed and optimised by means of genetically modified yeasts. VIVALDI also generated a new bioelectrochemical process to recover ammonium and other nutrients from wastewaters, which are necessary for the production of these acids.

The solution developed can be replicated at different types of bio-based companies. “It is a pioneering methodology in which we have managed to integrate the electrochemical CO₂reduction and biological processes for the sustainable production of a wide range of products. We are convinced that this will allow us to advance in the development of a new industry based on the use and valorisation of CO_2, the CO₂-based industry, that will contribute to reduce the carbon footprint and the dependence on fossil fuels, in line with the climate and bioeconomic objectives set by the European Union”, says Albert Guisasola, full professor in the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering at UAB and coordinator of VIVALDI.
The research team now intends to transfer its methodology to a pilot scale, with reactors of up to 1 m³, and investigate the application of these new VIVALDI solutions in other CO₂ emitting processes. Besides this, the research group is focusing on the bioelectrochemical recovery of ammonia generated by purines.

VIVALDI, with a budget of nearly seven million euros, was led by the GENOCOV research group and included the involvement of the ENG4BIO group, both from the UAB Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering. The consortium is made up of 16 members, and includes bio-based industries (SunPine AB, Damm, Novamont and Bioagra) and technology developers (VITO, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, LEITAT, Processium, Avantium, UAB, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences - Vienna, Luleå University of Technology), as well as end users (Nutrition Sciences). The company Novamont has also investigated how to use CO₂ throughout its value chain. The team has also worked in collaboration with BETA Technology Centre (UVic-UCC), the technology and innovation consultancy ISLE, and CO₂ Value Europe, the European association of carbon capture and utilisation community.

The VIVALDI project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101000441.

VIVALDI website: www.vivaldi-h2020.eu