Researchers have developed an electro-biodiesel with 45 times the efficiency of traditional biodiesel offering substantial reductions in carbon emissions. This pioneering approach leverages innovative electrocatalysis and microbial processes to create a renewable energy solution fit for the future.
Researchers from three American universities have announced a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize renewable energy — an electro-biodiesel that is remarkably more efficient and environmentally friendly than existing biodiesels. This innovative electro-biodiesel, unveiled by experts from Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri and Texas A&M, promises to significantly reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector.
Diesel-fueled vehicles account for a significant portion of carbon emissions. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates that diesel fuel use contributed roughly one-fourth of the U.S. transportation carbon dioxide emissions in 2022. Given the urgent need for decarbonizing this sector, this discovery could be a game-changer.
Joshua Yuan, the Lucy & Stanley Lopata Professor and Chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering at WashU, teamed up with Susie Dai, a MizzouForward Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Missouri, and their colleagues at Texas A&M University to develop this novel solution.
Their paper, recently published in the journal Joule, details how they utilized electrocatalysis of carbon dioxide to produce an electro-biodiesel that is 45 times more efficient and uses 45 times less land compared to biodiesel derived from soybeans.
“This novel idea can be applied to the circular economy to manufacture emission-negative fuels, chemicals, materials and food ingredients at a much higher efficiency than photosynthesis and with fewer carbon emissions than petrochemicals,” Yuan said in a news release. “We have systemically addressed the challenges in electro-biomanufacturing by identifying the metabolic and biochemical limits of diatomic carbon use and have overcome these limits.”
Electrocatalysis, the cornerstone of their method, involves initiating chemical reactions via electron transfers on the catalyst surfaces. This process successfully converts carbon dioxide into intermediates like acetate and ethanol. These intermediates are then transformed by microbes into lipids, or fatty acids, which serve as biodiesel feedstock.
“The amount of energy diverted to the biodiesel precursor, lipid, is even lower as lipid has high energy intensity,” added Yuan. “On the contrary, the electro-biodiesel process can convert 4.5% of solar energy to lipids, which is much higher than the natural photosynthetic process.”
A new zinc and copper-based catalyst designed by the team plays a critical role in producing diatomic carbon intermediates. These intermediates are then converted into lipids using a specially engineered strain of the Rhodococcus jostii (RHA1) bacterium, known for its high lipid production.
In their climate impact analysis, the process showed promising results. Utilizing renewable resources for electrocatalysis, the electro-biodiesel process can reduce 1.57 grams of carbon dioxide per gram of biodiesel produced.
In stark contrast, conventional diesel production yields 0.52 grams of carbon dioxide per gram, while traditional biodiesel methods produce between 2.5 to 9.9 grams of carbon dioxide per gram of lipids.
“This research proves the concept for a broad platform for highly efficient conversion of renewable energy into chemicals, fuels and materials to address the fundamental limits of human civilization,” Yuan said. “This process could relieve the biodiesel feedstock shortage and transform broad, renewable fuel, chemical, and material manufacturing by achieving independence from fossil fuel in sectors that are fossil-fuel dependent, such as long-range heavy-duty vehicles and aircraft.”
This revolutionary scientific breakthrough not only holds promise for the future of renewable energy but also represents a significant stride towards a more sustainable, fossil-fuel-independent industry.