8. Carbon-capturing microbes
WEF Emerging Technology 2024
Engineered organisms convert emissions into valuable products like biofuels, providing a promising approach to mitigating climate change.
Competitive Environment in Carbon-capturing microbes
Companies and universities with conceptually close patents to the technology definition
Countries in technology
(number of active patents in technology in 2024 country by inventor address)
Development of patent publications
(publications per year)
EconSight comment and short analysis
CO2 is one of the most available sources of carbon on earth, but utilising it to produce higher molecules is anything but simple. One route is the biological route, in which bacteria are used to produce polymers, solvents and fuels from CO2, usually in combination with H2. Others use algae and cyanobacteria (Accelergy). Some players, such as Pluton Biosciences, have mastered microbes of all kinds, including fungi and viruses, to produce small molecules or seeds. The most commonly used bacteria can be of natural origin (e.g. CO2Bioclean), yeast-based or genetically modified (e.g. Wanhua Chemical, Eppen Europe/EnobraQ), and many different pathways, reactor designs and process steps are being investigated. The search revealed a great lack of major players in this field. Of the few that were found, Wanhua Chemical with its recent activities, Syngenta with its acquisition of Valagro Biologicals and finally Siemens Energy’s older patents, which apparently form the basis for the Rheticus II reactor together with Evonik. The small player sector, on the other hand, is flourishing with several small players targeting different product lines and process routes. The same applies to academic research, which is quite prominent and dynamic. The field seems to be close to maturity, but has not yet been realised on a large scale.
Background
- Textual concepts are generated for each WEF technology.
- The concepts are applied to our full-text AI-RAG (retrieval augmented generation system) which is optimised for highest precision patent analysis to identify the semantically close patents for each technology.
- A competitive environment with the most relevant companies and research institutions is developed where the relevance is calculated as the similarity of their patents compared to the technology concept. The closer to the technology core, the higher the similarity. Large corporates, small specialists and research institutions are shown separately.
Carbon-capturing microbes: Engineered organisms convert emissions into valuable products like biofuels, providing a promising approach to mitigating climate change.
This invention relates to a genetically engineered microbe designed to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and convert it into biofuels through metabolic pathways. The microbe is optimized to thrive in industrial environments with high CO2 concentrations, such as power plants and manufacturing facilities. By capturing CO2 and converting it into ethanol, biodiesel, or other biofuels, this technology offers a sustainable solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously producing renewable energy sources. The process can be integrated into existing industrial systems, contributing to both carbon mitigation and energy production.
The present invention describes a microbial system engineered to capture carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and synthesize bioplastics. The microbes have been modified to enhance their natural ability to fix CO2 and channel it into pathways that produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a type of biodegradable plastic. This system provides a dual benefit by reducing CO2 emissions and creating sustainable materials that can replace traditional petroleum-based plastics. The technology is scalable and can be deployed in a variety of industrial settings, contributing to a circular carbon economy.
This invention presents a strain of cyanobacteria genetically engineered to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into valuable renewable chemicals. The engineered cyanobacteria utilize photosynthesis to fix CO2 and produce high-value chemicals such as acetone, butanol, and isopropanol, which are essential for various industrial applications. The process is designed to operate efficiently under ambient light and temperature conditions, making it a viable option for large-scale deployment in both urban and rural areas. This technology offers a sustainable method for reducing carbon emissions while generating economically valuable products.
The invention describes a consortium of engineered microbes that work synergistically to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into biofertilizers. The microbial consortia are designed to operate in agricultural settings, where they capture CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into nitrogen-rich compounds and other nutrients that enrich soil fertility. This technology not only mitigates carbon emissions but also enhances crop yields by providing a natural and sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The system is designed for easy application and can be integrated into existing agricultural practices.
This patent describes a genetically engineered yeast strain capable of capturing carbon dioxide and converting it into high-value commodities such as bioethanol, organic acids, and bio-based polymers. The yeast is optimized to perform under industrial fermentation conditions, making it suitable for deployment in bio-refineries and other manufacturing facilities. By utilizing CO2 as a feedstock, the process offers a sustainable approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating valuable products. This technology provides a flexible platform for various industrial applications, contributing to the development of a low-carbon economy.
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