Biomass Re-Utilization Processes in Industrial Biotechnology

Member: Geno

Project dates: 2022 - 2025

The viability of biomanufacturing production processes hinges on a firm’s abilities to maximize yields, control costs, and maintain optimal margins. A portion of the cost and duration of fermentation is tied to the growth of biomass that will eventually produce the final product. It follows that reutilization of biomass over several consecutive runs has the potential to reduce the required inputs and maximize operating margins.

With this in mind, the team at Geno sought to develop a proof-of-concept biomass reutilization fermentation process. Over the course of this project, the team advanced the biomass reutilization concept from an idea to pilot-scale operations. Meticulous research and extensive modeling validated the potential of this technology and identified key constraints, which would become the focus of their development efforts. The addition of flocculants increased the speed and efficiency of the biomass reutilization unit operation. In parallel, Geno improved strain phenotypes required for optimal cell recycling. The culmination of this work was a successful series of sequential runs which established an initial proof-of-concept for biomass reutilization and characterization of the potential gains of this strategy.

Funding source: U.S. Department of Defense