Upgrading carbon monoxide to bioplastics via integrated electrochemical reduction and biosynthesis

It is challenging to obtain high-value hydrocarbons that are longer than C₃ via electrochemical CO₂/CO reduction. Integrating electrochemical CO₂/CO electrolysers with a downstream bioreactor is one solution for obtaining high-value long-chain products, but the electrolytes in these two systems are mismatched, preventing smooth integration. Furthermore we demonstrate a porous solid electrolyte reactor that produces highly selective and electrolyte-free acetate and couple it with a biosynthesis system for generating C₄₊ polyhydroxybutyrate bioplastic. A finely tuned electrolyte containing biocompatible salt medium with acetate can be directly injected into the downstream bioreactor without any separation or salt-mixing processes. In the optimized coupled platform, Ralstonia eutropha bacteria can grow with acetate generated from the CO electrocatalytic reduction reactor, and produce bioplastic as the final value-added product.. Authors: Wi, Tae-Ung [Rice University, Houston, TX (United States); Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) (Korea, Republic of)] (ORCID:000000028295825X); Xie, Yongchao [University of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000151120553); Levell, Zachary H. [University of Texas at Austin, TX (United States)]; Feng, Danyi [University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI (United States)] (ORCID:0000000324698063); Kim, Jung Yoon ‘Timothy’ [Rice University, Houston, TX (United States)]. DOE Contract: EE0010839. Subjects: 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY