The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalysis and Biological Conversion of Carbon Intermediates

CO2 capture is increasingly viewed as an important technology towards meeting climate goals. Electrocatalytic systems excel at converting CO2 into C1 and C2 compounds, but are challenged in forming additional carbon bonds. Biological systems can build complex carbon compounds from simple carbon compounds, but are less efficient at upcycling CO2 due to gas diffusion limitations and limited conversion to long carbon chain biomolecules. A team of researchers have initiated a project to develop an integrated platform that takes advantage of the strengths of electrocatalysis and bioconversion to convert CO2 to methanol and then to bioproducts. Dr. Michael Betenbaugh, Johns Hopkins University led the presentation team at DOE Project Peer Review.