(German title: Mikrobiell katalysierte Elektrosynthese von Bernsteinsäure (eSuccinat))

The aim is to utilize electrical energy for the microbial production of the plastic monomer succinic acid. The innovative approach of microbial electrosynthesis is being pursued here. Electrical energy is transferred to the microorganism Actinobacillus succinogenes, which also uses renewable raw materials to synthesize the catalysts and the product. The additional redox equivalents (NADH) resulting from the uptake of electrons cause a change in the composition of the metabolic product towards succinic acid. The concept allows the conversion of electrical energy into complex products using the self-replicating whole cell catalyst under very mild reaction conditions (T < 40 °C, pH 7, aqueous solvent). In addition, the requirements for the electrodes and the purity of the liquid phase in microbial electrosynthesis are low, making the process cost-effective.

The technology of microbial electrosynthesis has already been established by the applicants for the production of butanol and has been published several times. The project aims to establish a new, economically relevant bioproduction process and increase the technological maturity of the process. The transfer of the Power2X technology will initially be carried out in small reaction vessels and then transferred to a technical bioreactor. Scalability considerations will be carried out.