Akermin Demonstrates CO2 Capture using Biocatalyst Delivery System

ST. LOUIS, June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Akermin announces the successful commissioning and testing of its proprietary Biocatalyst Delivery System at the National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, AL.  The pilot unit has operated continuously for several weeks capturing close to 90% CO2 from flue gas with significant rate enhancement and no degradation in performance.

"These results validate our technology and our approach and support scale-up and demonstration across multiple markets," said Barry Blackwell, President and CEO.  "We are excited to achieve such excellent results with our initial field pilot test.  This achievement is a testament to the hard work of the entire Akermin team.  We would also like to acknowledge the unwavering support of the US Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE-NETL), and our project partners and suppliers, including:  Novozymes, EPIC Systems, the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC), Battelle and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).  After several weeks of continuous operation, this marks the longest and largest demonstration of an enzyme-catalyzed process for CO2 capture."

The pilot plant will continue operations for several months with no replenishment of enzyme.  The operating data provide technical and economic validation for CO2 removal from target markets such as biogas upgrading, LNG and ammonia production and support larger-scale field pilot testing for natural gas and coal-fired power plants.

Over recent months, Akermin has developed a next generation approach using an environmentally-friendly salt solution and proprietary process scheme that enables on-line biocatalyst replacement.  This solution will be demonstrated in future projects and can be applied to further reduce the cost of CO2 emissions reduction for large-scale industrial operations and natural gas and coal-fired power plants.

Akermin welcomes inquiries from technology suppliers, project developers, financiers and industry stakeholders and is actively seeking partners to support commercialization of this technology to address the global issue of managing CO2 emissions from industrial processes.

About Akermin, Inc.:
Akermin is a cleantech technology development company located at BRDG Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO.  Akermin's multi-disciplined approach integrates enzymes within proprietary delivery systems that can be incorporated into conventional processes for energy efficient, green CO2 management solutions. www.akermin.com

About Novozymes:
Novozymes is a world leader in bioinnovation and enzyme research, development and production.  Headquartered in Bagsvaerd, Denmark, the company maintains its North American regional headquarters in Franklinton, NC.

About EPIC Systems, Inc.:
EPIC Systems, Inc. is a St. Louis-based engineering & fabrication company that provides pilot and production scale process plants & systems.  For more information on modular pilot plants, visit www.epicmodularprocess.com and see how you can Do It Better.

About NCCC: 
Located in Wilsonville, AL and sponsored by DOE, the NCCC provides first-class facilities to test developers' technologies under commercially representative conditions with coal-derived flue gas and syngas, thereby accelerating the development of cost-effective CO2 capture technologies.

About Battelle:
Headquartered in Columbus, OH; Battelle is the world's largest independent scientific research and technology development organization that designs and manufactures products and delivers critical services for its government and industrial clients.

About PNNL:
Located in Richland, Washington; PNNL is a Department of Energy national laboratory. It is managed by Battelle and addresses many of America's most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through advances in basic and applied science.

CONTACT:
Sean Black
(314) 669-2612
[email protected]

SOURCE Akermin, Inc.