F O C U S ON P RO JECTS – B IOLOGIC AL GHG MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
F UND I NG:
CCEMC Funding: $500,000
Proponent Funds: $800,000
Total Project Value: $1,300,000
P RO JE CT TE AM:
FEATURED PROJECT
Artificial photosynthesis for managing
industrially produced CO2 emissions through
carbon capture and value creation
Dr. Carlo Montemagno, University
of Alberta
Dr. Paolo Mussone, University of Alberta
Kyle Minor, University of Alberta
Gordon Nish, University of Alberta
Generating high-value chemicals from industrial
carbon dioxide emissions
Geological carbon capture and storage technology
involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
at industrial facilities and sequestering the CO2 in
underground formations. An alternative approach is
to capture the CO2, and convert it into value-added
products – generating both economic value and a
“double-win” in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions.
We have developed a
natural process that allows
us to replicate processes found
in living systems to create value from
emissions deemed to be environmentally
damaging, and convert these emissions
into value-added products that will
contribute to the economy.
D R . C A R LO M O NTE M AGNO
Lead Principal Investigator
Led by Dr. Carlo Montemagno, one of the world’s
leading experts in nanotechnology, Ingenuity Lab at
the University of Alberta has developed an artificial
photosynthesis process that uses targeted natural enzymes
and proteins, nano-scale molecular assembly and light
to convert CO2 emissions into chemical energy for
generating valuable organic chemicals. Inspired by
photosynthesis – the process by which plants convert
light into chemical energy and fuel to grow – Ingenuity
Lab’s biochemical process replicates the metabolic cycle
that captures CO2 from the atmosphere and converts it
to hydrocarbons or sugars. The process is carbon negative
and energy efficient, and results in no unwanted
byproducts or toxic waste.
This two-year project aims to optimize a scalable
engineering system that uses industrial GHG emissions
to generate high-value chemicals compatible with
Alberta’s petrochemical infrastructure. At an industrial
scale, solar energy and inexpensive (intermittent and
off-peak) electricity would be used to power the chemical
reactions that turn CO2 into valuable chemicals. The
process offers a truly green solution for sustainably
reducing industrial GHG emissions, while further
reducing GHGs by generating high-demand, value-added
chemicals that otherwise would be produced through
energy-intensive petrochemical manufacturing.
SEPTEMBER 2014
Project goals
• Develop a novel process that reduces carbon dioxide emissions and
adds additional revenue streams to Alberta’s industrial sector by
generating high-value chemicals;
• Mature the technology to facilitate the transition to pilot plant scale
to demonstrate the potential for significant and sustainable
greenhouse gas reductions; and
• Conduct a commercial assessment of high-value chemicals that can be
synthesized through biochemical transformation of process
intermediates.
Project activities
The project’s main objectives and activities (all work will be done at
Ingenuity Lab at the University of Alberta) are:
1. Generate extensive homogenous kinetic data for process enzymes
– This activity involves determining the kinetics for all steps involved
in the artificial photosynthesis process, in order to engineer a
complete continuous system. The research team will determine the
most economical source for all enzymes (e.g. contracted
manufacturing or in-house production) and create a database of
comprehensive kinetic rate equations for each enzyme involved,
including each immobilized enzyme.
2. Demonstrate the continuous regeneration and net increase of
RuBP – RuBP, a small sugar involved in photosynthesis, is a key
component of the system. For an economically viable system, the
team must show that RuBP can be continuously regenerated and
used. The work involves designing and building a bench-top scale
prototype with all components integrated, including electrochemical
reactor, ATP regeneration reactor (ATP is adenosine triphosphate
which provides energy in the system), and a continuous molecular
assembly process that mimics natural ATP synthesis and regeneration.
3. Optimize foam “bubble architecture” formulation – For the
system to work, a small number of molecules needs to be put into
confined spaces in a reactor to enable sufficiently fast chemical
reactions. The foam bubble structure (which looks rather like the
foamy head on a glass of beer) provides these spaces; all the chemical
reactions occur within the tiny channels in between the bubbles.
Researchers will optimize the chemical composition of the foam so it
has the best properties possible for the most efficient and long-term
operation of a reactor in a commercial environment.
4. Do process scale-up demonstration – This activity involves scaling
up and optimizing the process from laboratory bench-top to a pilot
scale that is 10 times larger – a unit that would fit in the back of a
pickup truck, for example.
5. Conduct commercial assessment – Ingenuity Lab has identified
more than 60 chemicals that could be made from its process,
from polymer precursors to liquid transportation fuels to diabetic
sweeteners. A consultant will determine the most economically
attractive high-value chemicals for manufacture, based on
cost-efficiency of production, market assessment and the
competitive landscape.
For more information
about the project:
Dr. Carlo Montemagno,
Lead Principal Investigator
University of Alberta
780-641-1617
[email protected]
CCEMC
Celia Sollows
780-239-4150
[email protected]
ALBERTA INNOVATES
BIO SOLUTIONS
Marie Cusack
780-918-4620
[email protected]
BIOLOGICAL GHG
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Dr. Susan Wood-Bohm
613-920-0516
[email protected]
About CCEMC
The CCEMC is a not-for-profit,
independent organization with a mandate
to establish or participate in funding
initiatives to reduce GHG emissions and
improve our ability to adapt to climate
change. Every year the CCEMC provides
millions of dollars in funding for projects
that reduce GHG emissions.
ccemc.ca
About AI Bio Solutions
Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions is a
Government of Alberta corporation
dedicated to investing in research and
innovation for the benefit of the province’s
agriculture, food and forestry sectors.
bio.albertainnovates.ca