UNICO2RN: Flexible and Efficient Capture and Bioconversion of CO2 to Materials and Ingredients

The UNICO2RN project provides an innovative solution for carbon valorization by demonstrating new routes to convert biogenic CO2 into valuable bio-based ingredients and materials.

 

At the core of the project is a powerful two-step process. First, an advanced Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) technology efficiently captures and purifies the CO2 from industrial sources. Following this, biotechnological processes that utilize specialized Hydrogen Oxidizing Bacteria transform the purified CO2 into high-value products like microbial proteins and PHA.

 

The project demonstrates the modularity and flexibility of this approach through two large-scale cases in real industrial settings, advancing the technology to an industrially relevant level (TRL 7). These demonstrations showcase the system’s adaptability by producing valuable biomaterials from two different types of biogenic CO2 sources.

 

This new pathway offers clear advantages over existing benchmarks, including superior efficiency, enhanced safety, a smaller environmental footprint, and significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. By developing these processes to TRL 7, UNICO2RN paves the way for their industrialization, which promises major positive economic, environmental, and social impacts.

Our main tasks

• Groundwork for integrating SSbD framework
• Social impact assessment
• Human and Environmental Safety Assessment
• Process replicability/adaptability

Partners

VITO | AERBIO A/S | AERBIO | CO2BIOCLEAN | SABIO | MOF TECHNOLOGIES | IDENER.AI | NOVA-INSTITUTE | VEOLIA | LESAFFRE | NIZO

Start date – finish date

06 / 2025 - 05 / 2029