Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) jointly with Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has set up a Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research. The Centre has been set up with a significant development aimed at boosting research in bio-fuels in the country on micro-algae technology. This Centre is located on the campus of IOC’s R&D Centre at Faridabad. The IOC-DBT Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research is jointly and equally funded by the DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India; and IOC.
This IOC-DBT Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research has signed an agreement with LanzaTech, USA, to further develop IOC-DBT’s micro-algae technology. This agreement entails development of an acetate-to-lipids pathway, and evaluation of its suitability for LanzaTech’s CO2 gas fermentation technology. All the patents and commercial rights shall be vested in the IOC-DBT Centre.
LanzaTech is a leading company with a rich technology portfolio for conversion of waste gases from steel mills into ethanol through bio-fermentation (this process also produces acetate).
