In this route, microorganisms placed in fermenters are used to turn synthesis gas into chemical products. Synthesis gases comprise mainly of either carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide and hydrogen and can come from a variety of gasified biomass waste streams including forestry and agricultural residues and gasified municipal solid waste.

Synthetic biology is changing the face of the chemicals industry enabling production of ‘green’ chemicals that play a valuable part in our daily lives. We have developed the knowledge and capability to use waste resources to produce these chemicals and our partnership with Evonik plays an important part in bringing these technologies to the world.

—Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech

LanzaTech, a leader in gas-fermentation technology, uses proprietary microorganisms to capture waste gas streams, including synthesis gas for the production of low carbon fuels and chemical intermediates.

LanzaTech, founded in New Zealand and headquartered in the US is now a global organization with partnerships and investors in India, Malaysia, Japan, the UK and two commercial facilities slotted for construction in 2014 in China.

Germany-based Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals.