Biotech start-up Arkeon has unveiled its 150L pilot production plant using a capital investment of €10 million (US$11 million) to convert carbon dioxide into functional protein ingredients using gas fermentation.

Arkeon plans to expand its production to full-scale bioreactors with volumes between 800-1,000 square meters. According to the company, global partnerships have been established to develop innovative protein applications for functional food and beverage products.

“During our gas fermentation process, our archaea microbes convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide directly into all 20 proteinogenic amino acids essential for human nutrition and health,” Michael Mitsakos, business co-founder and president at Arkeon, tells Food Ingredients First. 

“The amino acids – customizable to various mixtures – are extracted from the fermentation broth and can be used as highly functional ingredients in various food and beverage products, including sports drinks, meal replacement shakes, protein bars and alternative protein products.” 

The facility based in Vienna’s Seestadt Innovation Hub will be the cornerstone of the company’s scaleup strategy. The capital has been used to build out the start-up’s proprietary technology for directly converting carbon dioxide into protein ingredients. 

Protein ingredients from gas fermentation
The production facility will provide a biotechnological foundation for future large-scale production. The next production phase will be the installation of a demo facility with a 3000L bioreactor system. 

“Gas fermentation is a biotechnological process in which microorganisms can use gasses as a substrate. Thus, microorganisms convert gasses into desired products. Our process is a completely new approach to the biotechnological production of amino acids,” Mitsakos explains.

“Until now, organisms have been used for the production of amino acids using, for example, sugar as a raw material. Common biotechnological processes release CO2 – our archaea, on the other hand, use CO2.”  

The commissioning of the 3000L bioreactor is scheduled for the end of 2024 and will see the company begin commercial production of its ingredients. The Vienna Business Agency initiated 

the construction of the Technology Centre Seestadt last week.

The plant was built in cooperation with Steamtec, Böhm Stadtbaumeister & Gebäudetechnik GmbH, Kanzler-Dach, Bioengineering, RW Serviceteam, and others.

Portfolio of bio-processed ingredients
In January, Arkeon partnered with specialty mineral giant ICL to support scaling its fermentation bioprocess that converts CO2 into the 20 proteinogenic essential amino acids needed in human nutrition. The process, hailed as carbon negative, is based on the use of archaea, a group of microorganisms that naturally feeds off the greenhouse gas.

“The functionality can range from increased protein content, improved amino acid profiles to taste, aromas and flavors.” 

Arkeon has patented a process in which archaea – highly resilient single-celled microorganisms – feed on CO2 and convert it to protein without any genetic engineering. The resulting alternative proteins are customizable and clean label functional ingredients.

The company also received €4 million (US$4.27 million) in capital to advance its CO2 utilization technology, which converts carbon dioxide into protein ingredients. Arkeon’s accumulated funds of over €10 million (US$10.69 million) will be used for its technology buildout, infrastructure expansion and product development.