Productive catalytic living materials: combining 3D biobased fibrillar membranes with synthetic microbial consortia to produce chemicals - LivMat

Project summary

Rationale: The global chemical systems are primarily linear, fossil-dependent, and emissions-intensive. Finding sustainable solutions to produce chemicals using a circular (bio)economy is ambitious but necessary for a sustainable future. Objectives: The main objective of the LivMat project is to capture and utilize natural resources (e.g., natural fibers) and waste resources (e.g., CO2) for developing catalytic living materials (cat-LMs) that are robust, energy-efficient, and scalable for chemical production. Potential applications: LivMat develops a synthetic microbial consortium reliant on natural and waste resources and constructs cat-LMs-based bioreactor prototypes for continuous monomer production. Impact and potential benefits: The commercialisation of the LivMat concept will capture CO2 and support the EU's GHG emission reduction targets. Developing bioreactor prototypes for continuous chemical production supports the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.