Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOBE20240906003
- Term of Validity
- 6 September 2024 - 6 September 2025
- Company's Country
- Belgium
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- A Belgian SME has developed a patented method for the enhancement of (biomass) productivity of hydrogenotrophic micro-organisms. The method uses hydrogenotrophic microorganisms, such as bacteria and/or algae, for the production of biomass. The company is looking for an industrial partner that wants to apply and commercialise the patented invention.
- Full Description
-
The company is a spin-off from Ghent University (Belgium) with expertise in Microbial Resource Management.
The company has developed a patented method and system for the enhancement of productivity of hydrogenotrophic micro-organisms. The method comprises the steps of: providing a reactor comprising a reactor vessel, at least one gas inlet and/or hydrogen production system, at least one fluid inlet, and at least one fluid outlet; charging the reactor with a hydrogenothropic micro-organism culture; providing a gas feed to the at least one gas inlet with the gas feed comprising an amount of hydrogen gas and/or producing hydrogen gas with the hydrogen production system; providing a fluid feed to the at least one fluid inlet; growing biomass; and removing and/or taking up of hydrogen (H2), carbondioxide (C02) and/or NH3/NH4+. Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of: charging the reactor with at least one phototrophic micro-organism culture, and in-situ forming of oxygen (02) by the phototrophic micro-organisms. - Advantages and Innovations
-
In general, biomass is produced under influence of light. For example, algae are produced and commercially applied in food products and feed.
Growth rate of the biomass is limited to the availability of the gases that are involved in the reactions to grow the biomass. This limited availability of required gaseous components is caused by the relatively low solubility of these relevant gasses and thereby the relatively low gas-to-liquid transfer rate. Also, in practice often valuable hydrogen gas is lost via the so-called bioreactor off- gas.
When air is used as oxygen source, gas needs to be vented to prevent gas accumulation in the process. This reduces the efficiency of the biomass growth. Furthermore, there is a safety risk involved when using a mixture of hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). This provides restrictions to the process that thereby hinder optimal biomass growth.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a method for the enhancement of the biomass productivity and/or concentration that obviates or at least reduces the aforementioned problems and/or is more efficient as compared to conventional methods for producing biomass. - Stage of Development
- Lab tested
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- IPR status
- IPR granted
- IPR notes
- BE; NL; EP granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
- The company is looking for (industrial) co-operation partners, licensees and/or investors to apply the patent, further develop the products and commercial applications.
- Type and Size of Partner
- SME <=10
- SME 50 - 249
- SME 11-49
- Other
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 08002002 - Food Microbiology / Toxicology / Quality Control
- Market keywords
- 04010 - Microbiology
- Targeted countries
- All countries