CERNET Demonstrator 1 (Italy): 
Turning Waste CO₂ into Bio-Based Ingredients

Demonstrator 1 (Demo 1) showcases CERNET’s commitment to circular innovation by transforming biogenic CO₂ emissions from municipal waste into valuable bio-based products.

At the ACEA site in Italy, CO₂ released during biogas treatment is captured and purified. This captured CO₂ becomes the feedstock for a novel oxyhydrogen fermentation process, converting it into biomass rich in proteins and amino acids.

The process yields two key ingredients:

• Protein hydrolysate – with potential applications in animal feed and cosmetics.
• L-alanine – a precursor for biosurfactants like MGDA, used in cleaning products.

Advanced downstream processing techniques, including steam explosion and enzymatic hydrolysis, are used to extract and purify these compounds. The pilot system operates at a 100L scale, targeting industrially relevant productivity and purity.

Validation & Applications

• L-alanine will be tested for cleaning formulations by Procter & Gamble.
• Protein hydrolysate will undergo cross-demo validation for feed and cosmetic use.

Key Milestones

• Installation and commissioning of pilot facilities.
• Optimization of fermentation and purification processes.
• Initial formulation testing of end products.

Impact

Demo 1 exemplifies CERNET’s mission to:

• Reduce emissions by valorising waste carbon.
• Create new value chains for bio-based products.
• Support sustainable growth in food, feed, and cleaning sectors.

CERNET Demonstrator 2 (Bulgaria): 
Biogenic CO₂ to Sustainable Food Ingredients

Demonstrator 2 (Demo 2) of the CERNET project showcases how biogenic CO₂ coproduct from bioethanol production can be transformed into high-value ingredients for food and biosolutions.

At ADM’s facilities, CO₂— appearing as co product —will be captured and prepared for transportation and is chemically converted into methanol by the National Institute of Chemistry (NIC). This pilot-scale process aims to produce 10–20 tons of methanol per year using advanced thermo-catalytic technology.

The methanol is then biologically transformed by ACIES Bio using their proprietary One Carbon Bio™ (OCB) platform. This innovative fermentation process produces:

• L-alanine – used in food and cleaning products.
• L-malic acid – a natural acidifier in food.
• Sorbitol – a sweetener and stabilizer in various applications.

Final validation of these ingredients will be conducted by ADM’s application labs to ensure they meet industrial purity standards and are suitable for biosolution markets.

Key Milestones

• Installation of methanol synthesis unit.
• Optimisation of microbial fermentation.
• Initial validation of bio-based ingredients.

Impact

Demo 2 demonstrates CERNET’s commitment to:

• Reducing CO₂ emissions through industrial symbiosis.
• Creating sustainable value chains for European bioeconomy.

Leveraging biotechnology to produce strategic ingredients

CERNET Demonstrator 3 (Spain): 
Turning Biogenic Emissions into Bioplastics

Demonstrator 3 (Demo 3) of the CERNET project explores how biogenic CO₂ and methane (CH₄) from wine production and biogas plants can be transformed into biodegradable plastics, and cosmetics contributing to a circular, low-carbon economy.

The process uses mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) in two complementary systems. In the first value chain, CO2 from grape fermentation is used as feedstock for the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)—a family of biodegradable bioplastics. The second value chain focuses on the use of CH4 from a biogas plant  and its conversion by methanotrophic microorganisms into ectoine, a molecule with applications within the cosmetics sector. Both value chains will be later tested in a controlled pilot-scale reactor.

Partners CARTIF retrofits BMAT’s CO₂ capture system and explores replication at GALERA, while BMAT upgrades and operates the plant and sets film specs. UVIC develops the CO₂-to-PHA system, GALERA hosts the pilot, and BIOFER supplies CO₂ and aids production. CIRCE optimizes CH₄-to-ectoine conversion and assesses CO₂ capture, TECNO produces PHA-based films, ENVIP refines ectoine purification, and PGBS validates ectoine in cosmetics.

Key Milestones

• Installation and commissioning of pilot-scale fermentation systems.
• Optimization of feeding strategies and microbial culture stability.
• Development of efficient product recovery and purification methods.
• Scale-up to a 200 L bioreactor for PHA and Ectoine production.
• Initial validation of PHA materials for real-world applications.

Impact

• Repurposes waste carbon emissions into high-value, biodegradable materials.
• Supports the development of sustainable packaging, agricultural films, and consumer goods.
• Demonstrates scalable, low-cost bioplastic production using renewable inputs.
• Contributes to the European bioeconomy and climate neutrality goals.

Strengthens industrial symbiosis between agriculture, waste management, and biotech sectors