The chemical industry is one of the most energy and CO2 intensive sectors globally. To reach climate
targets, this sector needs to accelerate the transition towards non-fossil, sustainable and more circular
and efficient resources. Bio-based industries (BBIs) go in that direction by substituting fossil feedstocks
with biological residues and waste to produce greener products. However, this innovative sector has
the opportunity to move a step further in creating a circular bioeconomy by also converting biogenic
CO2 emissions into sustainable biochemicals and biomaterials (e.g. bioplastics).
Launched in May 2021, the Horizon 2020 EU project CO2SMOS – Advanced chemicals production from
biogenic CO2 emissions for circular bio-based industries, will, in the next 4 years, develop a set of
breakthrough and cost-competitive CO2 conversion technologies. The CO2SMOS project will develop
solutions to transform the carbon emissions generated from bioprocesses (e.g. fermentation) into
different sustainable bioproducts: durable polymers, renewable biochemicals and biodegradable
materials. With these compounds it is possible to produce greener end-products such as packaging,
coatings, textiles and materials for biomedical applications. The demonstration of the technical,
economic and environmental sustainability of the different CO2SMOS technologies will allow the
design of an integrated platform of CO2 conversion processes for BBIs. This will help achieve zero or
even negative carbon emissions as well as replacing fossil-based chemicals with more sustainable ones
using renewable sources (green H2 and biomass) and CO2 as main raw materials.
The project consortium, led by the CARTIF, counts on the wide expertise and high
interdisciplinarity of 15 international partners ranging from technology developers (CARTIF, CSIC,
FUNDITEC, SINTEF, University of Twente and University of Amsterdam), a waste management and
technology transfer company (HERA Group), industrial end-users (Avantium, Novamont and Nadir),
interdisciplinary research institutions (CERTH and RWTH Aachen University), a service provider (RINA)
and the European Association representing the Carbon Capture and Utilisation community in Europe
(CO2 Value Europe). The scale-up and demonstration of the CO2-derived intermediates will take place
at the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant.
The consortium will work together with the goal of opening new markets and business models for
sustainable industries based on CO2-derived chemicals, contributing to diversify the economic base of
these rising sectors and to mitigate climate change.
Dr. Raúl Piñero Hernanz, Head of the Biotechnology & Sustainable Chemistry Area at CARTIF, said:
“CARTIF Technology Centre leads the coordination of the CO2SMOS Project which aims to develop a
set of innovative cost-competitive CO2 conversion technologies to transform biogenic CO2 emissions
into high added-value chemicals. Optimization of the lab scale protocols, based on advanced
fermentation processes, will be supervised by CARTIF team prior to its validation at pilot scale.”
Prof. Martina Ziefle, Chair of Communication Science at RWTH Aachen University, commented:
“RWTH Aachen University is excited to be part of a project making strides towards carbon neutrality.
As acceptance researchers, focusing on public perceptions and users’ requirements for well-accepted
technology developments and end products, we are closely involved with all steps of CO2SMOS to
ensure that the technological innovations developed therein can be successfully rolled out to the
market.”
Dr. María Balaguer, Postdoc Researcher at The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), stated:
“CO2SMOS project pursues the bio based CO2 conversion into value-added products by the
establishment of zero waste biorefineries with negative GHG emissions. CSIC technologies will be based
in the combination and integration of biotechnological and electrocatalytic processes.”
Dr. Evelien Uitterhaegen, R&D Coordinator at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP), said:
“Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is very excited to be part of the CO2SMOS project, aiming to decrease
biogenic CO2 emissions, while contributing to a circular economy. BBEPP will focus on the
demonstration of the CO2SMOS concept, an essential step in speeding up biobased innovations!”