German plant to convert carbon emissions into bioplastics
CO2BioClean technology uses a fermentation process to transform CO2 into biodegradable biopolymers that can be used in cosmetics, packaging, and agriculture.
A pilot plant that converts CO2 into bioplastics has been unveiled in Germany in an opening ceremony by State Minister Kaweh Mansoori.
The plant, which began operations in late August, seeks to offer a solution to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce biodegradable plastics simultaneously.
Located in the 4.6-square-kilometre Industriepark in Höchst, the plant uses a fermentation process that transforms CO2, hydrogen, and biomass into the biopolymer polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) using naturally occurring, non-pathogenic bacteria.
CO2 that is used in this process will be captured from companies and facilities in the Industriepark, preventing its release into the atmosphere.
The resulting biopolymers are then processed into filaments that can be used in various applications including cosmetics, packaging, and agriculture, and can be biodegraded within a year.
Discussing the opening, Hessen State Minister of Economic Affairs, Transport and Housing, Kaweh Mansoori, commented: “Today marks an important step for CO2BioClean and is an impressive demonstration of what is possible when science, innovation and entrepreneurship go hand in hand. It is impressive to see a technology using CO2 as a raw material to produce biodegradable plastics. This is a revolutionary approach that addresses two global challenges: climate change and plastic pollution.”
The technology has been developed by CO2BioClean, which was founded in 2019 by Dr Fabiana Fantinel and Dr Allessandro Carfagnini, and based in Eschborn.
Dr Fabiana Fantinel, CEO of CO2BioClean GmbH, added: “I wish to thank the State of Hesse for believing in our project and supporting it, along with the investors who have funded this plant. We are very pleased to have found ideal conditions here in Frankfurt to bring our project from the lab to reality. None of this would have been possible without our investors, our key partners, and without the great efforts of our incredible team working hard to achieve this result on time and on budget.”
The new plant marks the growing interest in utilising carbon emissions to create sustainable materials such as bioplastics. Other initiatives in the UK include Econic’s project to produce polyurethane from CO2 and the University of Bath’s efforts to create polycarbonate by mixing CO2 with sugars such as xylose.