A sustainable, low cost process for converting excess carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable products, as an alternative to releasing it into the atmosphere, could deliver major economic and environmental benefits. Researchers at The University of Queensland are developing a bioproduction platform using electrochemically active bacteria. With a modest input of electricity (e.g. from renewable sources), the process could convert CO₂ into a range of biofuels (such as butanol) and other value-added chemicals. This technology can operate effectively at small and large scales and has the potential to provide an inexpensive, environmentally friendly source of bio-chemicals. The CO₂ can be gaseous or dissolved in liquid, making it suitable for use with coal seam gas water, which is high in carbonates and an ideal input to the system.

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