Conference on CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals 2022 – Cologne (Germany) and online, hybrid conference, 23-24 March 2022

To honor these, nova-Institute grants its annual award, “Best CO2 Utilisation”, within the framework of the “Conference on CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals” taking place in Cologne on 23-24 March 2022 (http://www.co2-chemistry.eu). Great submissions reached the nova-Institute and six nominees now get the chance to demonstrate their full potential to a wide audience in Cologne (Germany) and online.

Here are the six nominees!

Acies Bio (SI) – OneCarbonBio

A fossil-fuel-based economy emits 1 billion tons of CO2 annually to produce industrial chemicals. To achieve net-zero goals by 2050 and limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 °C, the way we produce our raw materials must be redefined. 

OneCarbonBio uses power of synthetic biology to improve and leverage microbes' ability to convert CO2 derived feedstock, methanol, into value added chemicals, such as plastic monomers or amino-acids. Using C1 feedstock we can achieve a significant reduction of carbon emissions and arable land usage for production of industrial chemicals. OneCarbonBio consists of patented chassis strains, industrial fermentation solutions and a powerful synthetic biology toolbox to generate strains capable of production of different classes of biological molecules in a rapid manner.?

http://www.aciesbio.com

Air Company (US) – Air Eau de Parfum

Air Eau de Parfum is the world’s first fragrance made from air. Inspired by the earth’s most abundant and vital elements of air, water and sun, it’s a genderless fragrance designed to be as unconventional as possible. Each bottle created prevents 0.036kg of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.

Using 100% renewable energy, the ethanol base, which is the most prominent alcohol used in fragrance, was created using the company’s proprietary Carbon Conversion Reactor technology which mimics photosynthesis by using air (CO2), water and sun (solar energy) to transform CO2 into impurity-free alcohols. This results in a carbon-negative formula. The ethanol is then formulated with water and their curated sequence of notes to create the scent and final fragrance which is fresh and citrusy with top notes of fig leaf and orange peel, heart notes of jasmine, violet and sweetwater and base notes of powdery musk and tobacco.

http://www.aircompany.com

Avecom (BE) – Power To Protein

Power to Protein covers the sustainable production of protein-rich ingredients for human consumption. Avecom makes use of single cell micro-organisms or bacteria that naturally consume hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, both derived from green electricity by means of electrolysis, and a third gas - the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide - to produce a biomass rich in protein and vitamin B12. Further drying of the biomass will produce a powder that can be further applied as food ingredient. The Power to Protein process uses its additional resources like nitrogen without any loss to the environment, and is a net consumer, not an emitter, of carbon dioxide.

http://www.avecom.be

CleanO2 Carbon Capture Technologies (CA) – CleanO2 Soap

CleanO2® makes a revolutionary soap the old-fashioned way. Using 5,000-year-old know-how, the company makes premium natural cold-processed soap that contains captured carbon. The captured carbon, in the form of potassium carbonate, gives the soap a luxurious silky lather. What's more, even after the soap is used, the carbon remains sequestered.

But that's not the whole innovation. The sale of CleanO2 soaps helps fund the research, manufacture and installation of CarbinX™ carbon-capture units. This creates a virtuous business cycle.

As for the approach to carbon capture, CarbinX units are attached to the flues of natural gas heating appliances in commercial buildings. They convert the waste CO2 into potassium carbonate, before the carbon enters the atmosphere, using a patented process.?

http://www.cleano2.ca