Technological watch

ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED BIOCOMPOSITES FROM PHOTOSYNTHETIC MICROORGANISMS AND RELATED METHODS

A method for producing a 3D biocomposite structure via additive manufacturing involves mixing a biomass comprising whole photosynthetic microorganisms with a liquid and at least one additive to form a paste, and using a 3D printer to print the paste to produce a wet organic-composite manufacture. The wet manufacture is then dried to produce a dry biocomposite structure. The photosynthetic microorganisms can be cultivated in a growing medium to form the biomass as part of a waste management process. The method can remove more carbon dioxide from the environment via sequestration of carbon in the biomass than it emits. The dry biocomposite structure can have a high flexural modulus and flexural strength and can be coated for a weather-resistant finish and/or assembled with other biocomposite structures to form a larger construction.

Publication date: 27/06/2024

Number: WO2024138140A1 (A1)

Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE?[US]; CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECH?[US]

Inventor: TISH DANIEL?[US]; BECHTHOLD MARTIN?[US] (4)

Espacenet (Worldwide)


      

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme for the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative under grant agreement No 886416.