German researchers work to produce e-fuels and biosurfactants from exhaust gases and wastewater

In Germany, researchers asked, how can e-fuels and biosurfactants for industry be produced from exhaust gases and wastewater? An interdisciplinary consortium coordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT is addressing this question in the newly launched BEFuel project. The focus is on coupled bioelectrochemical production – i.e. the combination of electrochemical synthesis and biotechnological synthesis using microorganisms.

Two different waste streams are used for electrolysis powered by renewable energy: Crude glycerine, a waste material from biodiesel production, is used at the anode. The oxidation products can be used by microorganisms as nutrients to form biosurfactants. At the cathode, the researchers use waste water from a sewage treatment plant. Here, green hydrogen is initially produced, which the microorganisms use as an energy source to fix carbon dioxide in a first step and produce organic C6 and C8 acids in a second step. These can be used as starting materials for the production of biodiesel and biogas and are separated and enriched using special membrane technology.