Impact theme

Decarbonising hard-to-abate sector

Sector

Industry

Affiliation

DTU Biosustain

Team

Colleen Varaidzo Manyumwa, PhD, Main Scientist
Carsten Jers, PhD, Microbial Expert, Scientific Advisor
Chenxi Zhang, PhD, Molecular Biologist 

Technology

Why it matters

The overarching goal of this project is not only to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions but also to produce industrially relevant minerals, such as calcium carbonate, during the capture process. These minerals can be reintegrated into sectors like construction, paper, and steel, contributing to a circular economy. This dual function of emissions reduction and resource recovery addresses both climate change and industrial waste challenges. By using engineered bacteria and enzymes that operate under harsh conditions, the technology enables point-source CO₂ capture without high energy inputs, making it especially valuable for hard-to-abate industries. Ultimately, this solution supports decarbonization goals while generating economic and environmental value from existing waste streams.

Working on

We are developing a bio-based solution to tackle high CO₂ emissions from large industrial sources, such as steel manufacturing. Our technology, Carbonive, uses thermo-resistant, genetically engineered bacteria combined with targeted enzymes to accelerate CO₂ capture through biomineralization. These microbes convert CO₂ into stable calcium carbonate using calcium sourced from industrial waste like slag. The system is designed for high-temperature, point-source emissions and integrates into existing industrial settings. This scalable platform is optimized in bioreactors and aims to demonstrate robust performance at pilot scale.