Upstream considerations for gas fermentation processes

Resch, Michael G.; Badgett, Alex; Krömer, Jens O.; Marcellin, Esteban

doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103337

Title: Upstream considerations for gas fermentation processes

Journal Article · Tue Jul 29 00:00:00 UTC 2025 · Current Opinion in Biotechnology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103337 · OSTI ID:2575623

^[1]; Badgett, Alex ^[1];

^[2]; Marcellin, Esteban ^[3]

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig (Germany)
Univ. of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD (Australia)

Gas fermentation enables the production of fuels, chemicals, and foods from gaseous carbon sources and could serve as a technology for valorizing carbon that may otherwise be emitted to the atmosphere. In this review, we focus on upstream feedstock considerations: the supply of carbon and the supply of electrical power. Electrical power serves a dual role, providing both process energy and biochemical redox potential (via hydrogen or reduced intermediates). We define gas fermentation as bioprocesses involving gaseous feedstocks metabolized by microbes, distinct from microbial electrosynthesis. Trends in CO₂ point sources and low-carbon electricity systems are analyzed, highlighting opportunities and challenges for future deployment. This review synthesizes current knowledge and identifies key R&D priorities for process integration at industrial scale.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO); USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), Office of Carbon Management

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 2575623

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5100-93117

Journal Information:: Current Opinion in Biotechnology, Journal Name: Current Opinion in Biotechnology Vol. 95; ISSN 0958-1669

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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