In nature, materials with unique renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable potential are built and evolved from natural resources to provide the most effective designs and systems. Such naturally evolved concepts and systems inspire and set the basis for the LivMat project to design catalytic living materials (cat-LMs) and overcome fundamental efficiency, robustness, and scalability issues associated with current state-of-art technologies.
Specific innovation objectives and results: The LivMat project aims to syndicate 3D biobased porous materials with synthetic microbial consortia to effectively capture natural and waste resources and develop cat-LMs to synthesize chemicals continuously. Utilizing a machine and deep learning-based platform for integrated data analysis and system optimization will grant predictive power and deliver actionable knowledge to achieve high-performance cat-LMs. As a result, the LivMat team will demonstrate and scale cat-LMs-based bioreactors up to TRL 5 for continuous production of biobased monomers (at least 100 g), such as adipic acid or ɛ-caprolactone, as model compounds. Thus, the LivMat project supports the transition towards the circular economy and the European Green Deal by developing material and energy-efficient cat-LMs-based bioreactor platforms beyond the current state-of-art technologies for chemical production. In the future, these cat-LMs bioreactors could be transferred to environmental or space biotechnological sectors.
Needs addressed: The LivMat project benefits from an interdisciplinary network to facilitate cat-LMs development and knowledge by exploiting 3D material design and creating functionalities using microbial consortia for chemical production. By creating excellent science and research for innovative cat-LMs applications, the LivMat project develops robust and efficient sustainable technologies for chemical synthesis, which is bound to strengthen interdisciplinarity and support the innovation chain.
Impact and potential benefits: The overall cat-LMs development and their applications for producing bio-monomers such as ɛ-caprolactone and adipic acid, including CO2 sequestering, will be subjected to life cycle assessment (LCA) in the context of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). This will enable us to estimate the environmental impacts and address socio-ecological benefits that support several global societal challenges (SDGs 2, 9, 12, and 13).
The project has a duration of 3 years and started on July 1, 2024 and ends on June 30, 2027.