US start-up’s bacteria can convert gas emissions from Shougang’s Beijing steel mills into ethanol
- LanzaTech is helping its partner Shougang Group build two bioreactors to make ethanol from gases emitted by the Beijing-based steel maker’s plants
- Microorganism-enabled conversion of simple compounds into complex industrial material building blocks has reached early commercialisation, according to IDTechEx
Technology that uses microorganisms to turn carbon emissions into raw materials is edging closer to commercialisation as production is scaled up to cut costs, according to industry experts.
Some start-ups have demonstrated the viability of their technology through pilot plants by reducing the use of virgin fossil fuel resources to produce fuels and industrial materials.
The US’ LanzaTech is one such promising start-up. The Chicago-based company has developed technology that uses bacteria to convert carbon monoxide into ethanol. Ethanol can be blended with petrol for use as motor fuel, or as a feedstock for making chemicals with applications from garments to packaging.
“We are not just trying to decarbonise industry, brands and their products, we are [saying] there is already enough carbon above the ground [that we] can use to make things for our daily lives that normally comes from fossil carbon,” CEO Jennifer Holmgren said.
