Prospects for carbon-negative biomanufacturing

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date Published

12/2022

Authors

DOI

Abstract

Biomanufacturing has the potential to reduce demand for petrochemicals and mitigate climate change. Recent studies have also suggested that some of these products can be net carbon negative, effectively removing CO2 from the atmosphere and locking it up in products. This review explores the magnitude of carbon removal achievable through biomanufacturing and discusses the likely fate of carbon in a range of target molecules. Solvents, cleaning agents, or food and pharmaceutical additives will likely re-release their carbon as CO2 at the end of their functional lives, while carbon incorporated into non-compostable polymers can result in long-term sequestration. Future research can maximize its impact by focusing on reducing emissions, achieving performance advantages, and enabling a more circular carbon economy.

Journal

Trends in Biotechnology

Volume

40

Year of Publication

2022

URL

Issue

12

ISSN

01677799

Organization

Research Areas