Research

Microbial fuel cells

In a MFC, microorganisms interact with electrodes using electrons, which are either removed or supplied through an electrical circuit. MFCs are the major type of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) which convert biomass spontaneously into electricity through the metabolic activity of the microorganisms. MFC is considered to be a promising sustainable technology to meet increasing energy needs, especially using wastewaters as substrates, which can generate electricity and accomplish wastewater treatment simultaneously, thus may offset the operational costs of wastewater treatment plant

Microbial electrosynthesis

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a currently evolving facet of BES in which CO2 can be transformed into value added chemicals and fuels by utilizing a small amount of electrical energy in microbial catalytic system. The excess energy generated by renewable sources like solar photovoltaics and wind-turbines during the off-hours, can be effectively utilized for the transformation of CO2 through the MES approach. Bioelectrochemical reduction of CO2 in MES is a specific application of autotrophic bioproduction technology which is electricity-driven, CO2 negative and independent of biomass.

CO2 Electroreduction

Electrochemical CO2R (eCO2R) is considered as one of the most useful techniques for the decarbonization process. Such a process is controllable by means of electrode potential and operating temperature and allows for the possibility to exploit the power of renewables to convert CO2 and water into value-added fuels and chemicals. The employed electrocatalysts, local electrode potential, the type and composition of electrolytes are crucial to the efficiency and selectivity of a CO2 reduction process.

Bioeconomy

A biobased economy is the transition of life sciences or a knowledge contribution from life sciences into new, sustainable and environment-friendly processes and products to the economy. A biobased economy covers different socio-economic sectors including agriculture, environment, food, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and health. The member countries of the European Union (EU) have included the concept of a knowledge and biobased economy to their research agendas.

Projects

A training programme to promote the industrial adoption of microbial electrochemical technologies (Trampoline-) (January 2025-December 2028) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
An integrated platform of novel cost and energy-efficient conversion technologies producing liquid and gaseous biofuels from sustainable biogenic residues validated for direct use in fuel cells (FUELS-C) (June 2024-November 2027) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Electrochemical conversion of CO2 into added value products via highly selective bimetallic materials and innovative process design (ECOMATES- Marie Curie DN) (February 2023-January 2026) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Belgian Hydrogen Fundamental Expertise (BeHyFe) (October 2021-March 2026) (European Transition Funds, Brussels, Belgium)
Clusters for CO2 electrolyzers to Ethylene (CLUE) (January 2022-December 2025) (Catlisti, Belgium)
Innovative bio-based chains for CO2 valorisation as added-value organic acids (VIVALDI-H2020) (June 2021-May 2025) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Design, implementation and production upscaling of novel, high-performance, multi-metallic cluster-based catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation and electro-reduction (CATCHY- Marie Curie ITN) (November 2020-October 2024) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Intensification of CO2 Capture Processes (CAPTIN-Moonshot) (January 2020-September 2021) (Catlisti, Belgium)
Bacterial conversion of CO2 and renewable H2 into biofuels (Bac-to-Fuel) (January 2019-June 2022) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
PowerPlatform: Establishment of platform infrastructure for highly selective electrochemical conversions (PERFORM) (January 2019-December 2022) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Electrons to high value Chemical products (E2C) (July 2018-December 2021) (Interreg 2 Seas, European Commission)
Biological routes for CO2 conversion into chemical building blocks (BioRECO2VER) (January 2018-December 2021) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Renewable CCU based on formic acid integrated in an industrial microgrid (CO2PERATE) (April 2018-March 2021) (Catlisti, Belgium)
ZeroWasteCluster (Electroflex) (April 2017 - March 2020) (EIT RawMaterials, Belgium)
CO2 for energy storage (ENOP) (July 2015-June 2019) (Interreg Vlaanderen Nederland, European Commission)
Integrated Bio-Electrochemical Production of Ethylene through CO2 sequestration (BIO-ELECTRO-ETHYLENE) (April 2014-March 2016) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Bioelectrochemical system for enzyme catalyzed CO2 Sequestration for the recovery of commercially viable carbonated water and methanol (ElectroEnzeQuest) (May 2013-April 2015) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Matrix oil recovery and API improvement of heavy and extra-heavy crude oil by in-situ hydroprocessing (November 2013-October 2016) (SENER-CONACyT 17707, Mexico)
Integrating bio-treated wastewater reuse and valorization with enhanced water use efficiency to support the Green Economy in Europe and India (Water4Crops) (January 2013-December 2016) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Towards an Indian-Europe House for science and innovation (INDIA SI House) (March 2012-Febrauary 2014) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Strengthening Networking on Biomass Research and Biowaste Conversion – Biotechnology for Europe India Integration (SAHYOG) (December 2011-December 2014) (European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)
Second life of sewage as a matrix for dilution of organic waste streams (Sewage Plus) (February 2008-February 2010, Phase 1 and September 2010-September 2012, Phase 2) (Milieu- en energietechnologie Innovatie Platform (MIP), Antwerp, Belgium)
Disposal of Black Liquor Wastewater through High Rate Transpiration System Using Selected Species of Plants and Microbes (Madhya Bharat Paper Mills, Champa, Chhattisgarh, India) (2004-2007)
Project Green, Growing renewable energy from Jatropha (2005-2007) (British Petroleum, Andhra Pradesh, India)
Managing crop residues for healthy soils in rice ecosystems (2004-2006) (International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippines)
Cleaning of reservoir from algae using phytoremediation at TCL, Babrala (TATA Chemicals Ltd., Babrala, U.P., India) (2004-2005)
Introduction of AMF (arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi) as biofertilizers and soil-structure stabilizers for sustainable agriculture (2003-2007) (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, Switzerland)
An efficient fast-track reclamation of effluent affected site and effluent re-disposal in the reclaimed model (AAB GREEN CAP-II) (2003-2007) (Associated Alcohols & Breweries Ltd., Barwaha, Madhya Pradesh, India)

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