FSC - Fuel Science Center

 

The Fuel Science Center – Adaptive Conversion Systems for Renewable Energy and Carbon Sources

The increasing availability of non-fossil energy technologies opens unprecedented possibilities to re-design the interface of energy and material value chains towards a sustainable future. The fundamental research in the Cluster of Excellence “The Fuel Science Center – Adaptive Conversion Systems for Renewable Energy and Carbon Sources” (FSC) aims to integrate renewable electricity with the joint utilization of bio-based carbon feedstocks and CO ₂ to provide high-density liquid energy carriers (“bio-hybrid fuels”), which enable innovative engine concepts for highly efficient and clean combustion. FSC will generate fundamental knowledge as well as novel scientific methodologies to replace today’s fossil fuel-based static scenario by adaptive production and propulsion systems that are based on renewable energy and carbon resources under dynamic system boundaries.

https://www.fuelcenter.rwth-aachen.de/

 

Contribution of the iAMB

CO₂-negative prodction of Itaconate

The project is part of the CA1 - „Molecular phenomena and transformations‟, subject area „Integrated synthetic pathways‟, contributing a CO2 negative synthesis route for citrate or itaconate. The proposed biocatalytic pathway will utilize the C2 compounds from novel chemocatalytic molecular transformations of CO2. These C2 compounds will be co-fed along with additional CO2, glucose or xylose to Ustilago with the aim of producing citrate or itaconate. Both intermediates are candidates for bio-fuel and bio-hybridfuel synthesis.

Staff: Andreas Müsgens

In situ CO₂ valorisation combining chemical and biological whole cell catalysis

This project combines the worlds of chemical and biological catalysis in an aim to not only capture, but upgrade CO₂ during fermentations. Carbon dioxide is an unwanted waste-product, which can be converted with a Ruthenium based catalyst and co-applied H₂ pressure to formate. This non-volatile C1-source can be used as substrate or co-feed for diverse microorganisms and production routes, further integrating this add-on technology into the FSC.

Staff Hendrik Mengers

Biosynthesis of 3-(3-Hydroxyalkanoyloxy) alkanoic acids (HAAs) as bio-hybrid fuel intermediate molecules using Pseudomonas putida KT2440

In this project, the synthesis of HAAs, an ester of two hydroxy-fatty acids which can be converted into fuel-molecules in a chemical two-step reaction, should be improved. By expanding the substrate spectrum to CO₂-derived substrates, the carbon balance of the overall bio-hybrid fuel production can be improved. Furthermore, metabolic engineering is used to avoid the reduce the formation of by-products and improve the product yield.

Staff: Melanie Filbig

Microbial production of methyl ketones for advanced biofuel blends

This FSC project focusses on process optimization and scale up of the production of aliphatic, medium chain length methyl ketones. These molecules can be produced at high concentrations using Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120 as a host. Methyl ketones have favorable properties for the usage as innovative and sustainable transportation fuels.

Staff: Carolin Grütering

 

Start: January 2019

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and Wissenschaftsrat
DFG ID: 390919832, Cluster of Excellence 2186 "The Fuel Science Center"