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Scalable Microbial Electrochemical Systems: Maximizing Food Waste Valorization into Biofuels

Agriculture
Food & Agriculture Microbiology
Fermentation & Microbially-Produced Agents
College
College of Engineering (COE)
Researchers
Saba, Beenish "bina"
Cornish, Katrina
Licensing Manager
Panic, Ana
(614) 292-5245
panic.2@osu.edu

T2025-140 This advanced electro-fermentation technology efficiently transforms diverse food waste streams into high-value biofuels, offering a sustainable and scalable solution for industrial applications.

Background

Food waste, with 2.5 billion tons discarded globally each year, drives pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Conventional disposal methods like landfilling and incineration are unsustainable and risky. This technology leverages microbial electrochemical systems (MES) to transform food waste into valuable biofuels and chemicals, delivering a sustainable, efficient solution for waste valorization while addressing critical needs for enhanced energy efficiency, process stability, and recovery effectiveness that current MES technologies face.

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Technology Overview

Researchers at The Ohio State University have pioneered an advanced microbial electrochemical system (MES) that transforms food waste-including coffee grounds and dairy waste-into valuable biofuels such as butanol, ethanol, and acetone. This innovative electro-fermentation process boosts microbial efficiency under low voltage conditions, delivering higher product yields with reduced energy and cost. Fully scalable and compatible with existing fermentation systems, it’s a sustainable, adaptable solution for industrial-scale resource recovery.

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Benefits

  • Performance improvements: Enhanced biofuel yield through optimized microbial metabolism
  • Cost-effectiveness: Low energy consumption and efficient conversion process
  • Versatility: Applicable to various types of food waste

Applications

  • Biofuel production: Conversion of food waste into butanol, ethanol, and acetone
  • Waste management: Sustainable and efficient solution for reducing food waste and greenhouse gas emissions
  • Energy recovery: Utilization of food waste as a renewable energy source

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Patents: Provisional filing

Seeking: Partnership, Licensing