The lignin fraction of plant biomass is a highly abundant but currently underutilized renewable resource. On the other hand, finding ways to utilize CO2 is strongly encouraged for environmental and climatic reasons. Microbe-based platforms for upgrading these substrates are slowly emerging, but there are significant challenges related to both carbon sources; lignin is difficult to degrade and the product range of CO2-based processes is thermodynamically limited. In the project “Metabolic integration of lignin and CO2 utilization for enhanced carbon recovery and bioproduction” (LingCO2), the challenges related to both substrates are addressed by exploiting bacterial metabolism in an innovative way, enhancing the efficiency of upgrading both CO2 and lignin. Research conducted at Tampere University produces new information and strategies for biobased production of chemicals from lignin and CO2, providing grounds for the development of breakthrough technologies for sustainable bioeconomy.

2022

2027