Hybrid biological-synthetic biomass utilisation and valorisation through the combination of biotechnology and solar photocatalysis

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The project aims to convert waste biomass into valuable feedstocks and fuel. Nature's own toolbox will be used to break up lignocellulose under mild conditions in order to make it accessible to synthetic processing. Light-driven oxidation of fungus-treated biomass will give valuable oxidation products (e.g. formate) that will accumulate in the solution until the concentration is high enough for an economical collection, whereas hydrogen gas formed simultaneously by reduction of water is easily collected without additional energy input. Independent study of the two half-reactions into biomass oxidation and hydrogen evolution will enable an optimisation of their rates and efficiencies as well as improve product collection. This also allows other feed configurations to be considered.