Boston, MA (June 13, 2012) - Cambrian Innovation Inc., a creator of bio-electrochemical solutions that solve critical resource problems at the nexus of water and energy, today announced that it has received funding from NASA to develop next-generation carbon capture and oxygen recycling technology based on its proprietary ExoGenâ„¢ platform.ExoGen is based on a breakthrough process called electromethanogenesis in which microbes consume electric current and convert carbon dioxide directly into methane fuel and water. As a novel method for CO2 conversion to methane fuel, ExoGen technology has the potential to serve as the basis of a wide variety of carbon capture and wastewater treatment applications. For NASA, Cambrian Innovation will evaluate ExoGen's ability to recover oxygen and fuel from waste carbon dioxide streams in long duration space flight."ThBoston, MA (June 13, 2012) – Cambrian Innovation Inc., a creator of bio-electrochemical solutions that solve critical resource problems at the nexus of water and energy, today announced that it has received funding from NASA to develop next-generation carbon capture and oxygen recycling technology based on its proprietary ExoGen™ platform.
ExoGen is based on a breakthrough process called electromethanogenesis in which microbes consume electric current and convert carbon dioxide directly into methane fuel and water. As a novel method for CO2 conversion to methane fuel, ExoGen technology has the potential to serve as the basis of a wide variety of carbon capture and wastewater treatment applications. For NASA, Cambrian Innovation will evaluate ExoGen’s ability to recover oxygen and fuel from waste carbon dioxide streams in long duration space flight.
“The challenge of closing resource loops for long duration space-flight is a microcosm of the challenges we face in creating a sustainable industrial infrastructure on Earth,” said Matthew Silver, CEO of Cambrian Innovation. “Demonstrating ExoGen’s utility for NASA will also push the state-of-the-art for industrial applications.”
NASA currently carries out oxygen recovery from carbon dioxide as part of a multi-step chemical process including water electrolysis, de-humidification and finally chemical conversion, in what is called a Sabatier reaction. ExoGen simplifies this into a one step process while removing the need for de-humidification, reducing overall system mass and complexity.
“Bio-electrochemical systems provide a unique platform that generates value-added products from a range of wastewater streams,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman, an MIT Professor and former NASA astronaut and consultant on the project. “Cambrian Innovation has a talented team and I look forward to working with them to identify suitable application areas for human spaceflight.”
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Cambrian Innovation™ is an environmental product development company focused on moving revolutionary scientific discoveries from bench to market for corporations, academia and government. As a world leader in the commercialization of bio-electrochemical systems, Cambrian Innovation’s technological platform has application to a range of industries including wastewater treatment, renewable natural gas, distributed sensing and aerospace. Additionally, Cambrian Innovation provides market and technical feasibility analysis for corporate and government clients interested in quickly determining the validity of novel technologies, and is actively seeking partners for developing and innovating novel technologies.
e challenge of closing resource loops for long duration space-flight is a microcosm of the challenges we face in creating a sustainable industrial infrastructure on Earth," said Matthew Silver, CEO of Cambrian Innovation. "Demonstrating ExoGen's utility for NASA will also push the state-of-the-art for industrial applications.Â"NASA currently carries out oxygen recovery from carbon dioxide as part of a multi-step chemical process including water electrolysis, de-humidification and finally chemical conversion, in what is called a Sabatier reaction. ExoGen simplifies this into a one step process while removing the need for de-humidification, reducing overall system mass and complexity."Bio-electrochemical systems provide a unique platform that generates value-added products from a range of wastewater streams,"Â said Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman, an MIT Professor and former NASA astronaut and consultant on the project. "Cambrian Innovation has a talented team and I look forward to working with them to identify suitable application areas for human spaceflight."--Cambrian Innovationâ„¢ is an environmental product development company focused on moving revolutionary scientific discoveries from bench to market for corporations, academia and government. As a world leader in the commercialization of bio-electrochemical systems, Cambrian Innovation's technological platform has application to a range of industries including wastewater treatment, renewable natural gas, distributed sensing and aerospace. Additionally, Cambrian Innovation provides market and technical feasibility analysis for corporate and government clients interested in quickly determining the validity of novel technologies, and is actively seeking partners for developing and innovating novel technologies.
