(German title: Nutzung von Kohlenstoffdioxid als Ressource zur Wertstoffproduktion mit phototrophen Biofilmen)

The reduction of greenhouse gases is a key political requirement that must be implemented in order to meet international climate protection targets. One option, which is also being pursued by energy suppliers such as RWE or Vattenfall, is the expansion of the CO2 cycle, whereby the emitted CO2 is to be converted into biomass/recyclable materials by means of phototrophic organisms. So far, mainly suspension cultures have been used for this purpose; the use of phototrophic biofilms for sequestration and for the production of valuable materials has received little attention, although the use of biofilms does offer potential. The organisms are embedded in a matrix that protects them from external abiotic conditions and makes them more robust. The project will be the first to investigate the extent to which phototrophic biofilms of terrestrial cyanobacteria can contribute to the expansion of the CO₂ cycle when exposed to synthetic model exhaust gases. A recently developed photobioreactor will be used for the investigations, which allows surface-associated growth of this group of organisms in an aerosol atmosphere. The reactor type enables the initiation of dry phases and nutrient limitation, which can be used to induce the synthesis of valuable substances. Potential valuable substances are lipids and components of the biofilm matrix. The project aims to characterize and optimize biomass/recyclable material production. Finally, it is planned to establish and model a continuous process.