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Biotechnological valorization of biomass derived syngas

Dr. Manfred ZinnLife Technologies

HES‐SO Valais//Wallismanfred.zinn@hevs.ch

What is syngas?

How is it produced?

John, HES‐SO biotechnology student

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Biomass

T > 700°Cev. steam & limited O2

O2

Syngas = synthesis gas = producer gas

http://theoldmotor.com/?tag=syngas‐wood‐generator

http://www.leafgenerator.com/the‐science/

Syngas used for fueling cars during WWII

Combustion reactions:C + ½ O2 → CO  (‐111 MJ/kmol)CO + ½ O2 → CO2 (‐283 MJ/kmol)H2 + ½ O2 → H2O  (‐242 MJ/kmol)

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http://timbuktuchronicles.blogspot.ch/2013/09/small‐scale‐gasification‐production.html

Syngas used to gain electricity

http://www.alibaba.com/product‐detail/Biomass‐generator‐500kw‐rice‐husk‐gasification_60328763570.html

Can you only burnsyngas and produce

electricity?

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http://www.osti.gov/scitech/servlets/purl/1039045

Syngas serves for many chemical products

Biotechnology involved in the SYNPOL project

www.synpol.org

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PHA

Photo: CIB, CSIC (Spain) Photo: CIB, CSIC (Spain)

Bioplastic produced by Rhodospirillum rubrum

Rhodospirillum rubrum produces 2 valuable products:

O H

O

HO

Poly(3‐hydroxy‐butyrate) (PHB)

Picture M. Zinn

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3 days

5 days

Agar plate

3 days

Aerobic cultivation

Anaerobiccultivation

Syngas & acetate

Growth of Rhodospirillum rubrum on syngas

Pictures S. Karmann

But I learned thatCO is toxic and H2

explosive!

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Syngas: A complex cocktail of gases

Syngas

CO2

CO

N2 & variables

H24‐77 vol% flammability 9.1‐76 vol% flammability

Quite toxic!

Too much is not good!

5. Alarm panels + sound warnings insideand outside the lab

2. Gases stored outside the lab and brought to the fume hoods with installed pipes equipped with electro valves

4. Detectors for H2 and CO automatically switching off the electro valves if triggered

1. Fume hoods and ventilation system

3. Emergency kill switch (switches-off electro valves)

Safety first!!!

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LabCIP for CIP & SIPof the Labfors 5 bioreactor

CIP & SIP for more safety and research speed

Bioprocess control and automation

Online analytics:

1) Off-gas analysis by mass spectrometry• Gas balance and RQ• Parameters for carbon balance (CO, CO2)

2) Redox probe• Determination of change from aerobic to

anaerobic growth conditions

3) Online flow cytometer• Cell number and growth kinetics• Quantification of PHA content

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Syngas fermentation with R. rubrum

Stephanie Karmann (unpublished data)

Isolation of PHB from bacterial cells

Freeze‐dried biomass

Solvent extraction and precipitation in MeOH

PHB

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O.K… but whatcan you do with PHB?

Zhang X, Luo R, Wang Z, Deng Y, Chen G‐Q. 2009. Application of (R)‐3‐Hydroxyalkanoate Methyl Esters Derived from Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoates as Novel Biofuels. Biomacromolecules 10:707‐711.

Methanolysis

Applications of PHB

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…to our supporters and partners!

Many thanks to you…

D. Egger, D. Cueni, D. Hebel

S. FollonierS. KarmannA. VaccariM. SequeiraM. BassasJ. Pott

www.synpol.org