Projects & Publications

Peer-reviewed papers, research projects, and conference work from our team, the science behind the technology, documented as it happened.

Peer-reviewed Publications

Bernacchi, S., Rittmann, S., Seifert, A., Krajete, A., and Herwig, C., Experimental methods for screening parameters influencing the growth to product yield (Y(x/CH4)) of a biological methane production (BMP) process performed with Methanothermobacter marburgensis, AIMS Bioeng., Volume 1, Number 2, 2014, pp. 72–86

Martinez-Porqueras, E.*, Rittmann, S.*, Herwig, C., Analysis of H2 to CO2 yield and physiological key parameters of Enterobacter aerogenes and Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 38, Number 25, 2013, pp. 10245-10251

Seifert, A.*, Rittmann, S.*, Bernacchi, S., Herwig, C., Method for assessing the impact of emission gasses on physiology and productivity in biological methanogenesis, Bioresource Technology, Volume 136, 2013, pp. 747–751

Rittmann, S.*, Seifert, A.*, Herwig, C., Essential prerequisites for successful bioprocess development of biological CH4 production from H2 and CO2, Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 2013, DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2013.820685

Rittmann, SK-MR, Seifert, A & Bernacchi, S, Kinetics, multivariate statistical modelling, and physiology of CO2-based biological methane production, Applied Energy, Vol. 216, 2018, S. 751-760. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.01.075

Martinez-Porqueras, E., Rittmann, S., Herwig, C., Biofuels and CO2 neutrality: an opportunity, Biofuels, Volume 3, Number 4, 2012, pp. 413–426

Mauerhofer, L-M, Pappenreiter, P, Paulik, C, Seifert, AH, Bernacchi, S & Rittmann, SK-MR, Methods for quantification of growth and productivity in anaerobic microbiology and biotechnology, Folia Microbiologica, 64, 321-360, 2019, DOI: 10.1007/s12223-018-0658-4

Rittmann, S., Seifert, A., Herwig, C., Quantitative analysis of media dilution rate effects of Methanothermobacter marburgensis grown in continuous culture on H2 and CO2, Biomass and Bioenergy, Volume 36, 2012, pp. 293-301

Mauerhofer, L-M, Reischl, B, Schmider, T, Schupp, B, Nagy, K, Pappenreiter, P, Zwirtmayr, S, Schuster, B, Bernacchi, S, Seifert, AH, Paulik, C & Rittmann, SK-MR, Physiology and methane productivity of Methanobacterium thermaggregans, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 102, 2018, S. 7643-7656. DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9183-2

Ricci, L., Seifert, A., Bernacchi, S., Fino, D., Pirri, C.F. & Re, A. (2023) Leveraging substrate flexibility and product selectivity of acetogens in two-stage systems for chemical production. Microbial Biotechnology, 16, 218–237. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.14172

Taubner, R-S, Pappenreiter, P, Zwicker, J, Smrzka, D, Pruckner, C, Kolar, P, Bernacchi, S, Seifert, AH, Krajete, A, Bach, W, Peckmann, J, Paulik, C, Firneis, MG, Schleper, C & Rittmann, SK-MR, Biological methane production under putative Enceladus-like conditions, Nature Communications, 9, 748, 2018. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-02876-y

Zwirtmayr, S., Mauerhofer, L., Bernacchi, S., Seifert, A., Rittmann, S. and Paulik, C., Biologische Methanproduktion mit Archaea‐Stämmen unter Hochdruckbedingungen, Chemie Ingenieur Technik, 92(9): 1200-1200. https://doi.org/10.1002/cite.202055420

Lisa-Maria Mauerhofer, Sara Zwirtmayr, Patricia Pappenreiter, Sébastien Bernacchi, Arne H. Seifert, Barbara Reischl, Tilman Schmider, Ruth-Sophie Taubner, Christian Paulik, Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann., Hyperthermophilic methanogenic archaea act as high-pressure CH4 cell factories, Commun. Biol., Vol.4, 289, 2021, doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01828-5

Pappenreiter, PA, Zwirtmayr, S, Mauerhofer, L‐M, Rittmann, SK‐MR, Paulik, C., Development of a simultaneous bioreactor system for characterization of gas production kinetics of methanogenic archaea at high pressure, Eng Life Sci. 2019; 19: 537–544. https://doi.org/10.1002/elsc.201900035

Bernacchi, S., and Herwig, C., Challenges and solutions for development of gas limited bioprocesses illustrated by the biological methane production (BMP) process development, Current Biochemical Engineering, Volume 3, Number 3, December 2016, pp. 165–176(12)

Bernacchi, S., Krajete, A., and Herwig, C., Experimental workflow for developing a feed forward strategy to control biomass growth and exploit maximum specific methane productivity of Methanothermobacter marburgensis in a biological methane production process (BMPP), AIMS Microbiol., Volume 2, Number 3, 2016, pp. 262–277

Nischkauer, W., Vanhaecke, F., Bernacchi, S., Herwig, C., and Limbeck, A., Radial line-scans as representative sampling strategy in dried-droplet laser ablation of liquid samples deposited on pre-cut filter paper disks, Spectrochim, Acta Part B At. Spectrosc., Volume 101, November 2014, pp. 123–129

Seifert, A., Rittmann, S., and Herwig, C., Analysis of process related factors to increase volumetric productivity and quality of biomethane with Methanothermobacter marburgensis, Appl. Energy, Volume 132, November 2014, pp. 155–162

Bernacchi, S., Weissgram, M., Wukovits, W., and Herwig, C., Process efficiency simulation for key process parameters in biological methanogenesis, AIMS Bioeng., Volume 1, Number 1, 2014, pp. 53–71

Research Projects

Energy Research. Second Call (Climate and Energy Funds, Austrian National Research Foundation FFG). Project BioHyMe, 2016-pending. Partners: Vienna University, Johannes Kepler University Linz

Research Competences for Business. Second Call (Climate and Energy Funds, Austrian National Research Foundation FFG): Development of Microbial Biorefinery Concepts (854156), 2016-pending

New Energies 2020 - Fourth Call (Climate and Energy Funds and FFG). 1. Development of an Optimized Application Portfolio using Methanogenesis at its Core (830003), 2010-2013. 2. Development of an Economically Optimized Process using Methanogenesis (830004), 2010-2012. Partner in both projects: Vienna University of Technology

Conference Presentations and Posters

Lorantfy, B., Bernacchi, S., Martinez Porqueras, E., Herwig, C., Restructurization of Renewable Energy Sources for more Efficient Biofuel Productions with Extremophilic Microorganisms, Presentation: EnInnov 2014 - 13. Symposium Energieinnovation, Graz, Austria, 12.02.2014 - 14.02.2014

Bernacchi, S., Seifert, A., Krajete, A., Rittmann, S., Anwendungen der Methanogenese zur Biogasveredelung und Stromspeicherung, Presentation: biogas13, St. Pölten, Austria, 04.12.13-05.12.13

Bernacchi, S., Rittmann, S., Krajete, A., Seifert, A., Applications of Methanogenesis for CO2 Utilization and Intermittent Power Storage, Presentation: 2nd Conference on Carbon Dioxide as Feedstock for Chemistry and Polymers, Essen, Germany, 8.10.2013

Bernacchi, S., Seifert, A., Rittmann, S., Krajete, A., Benefits of biological methanation, Presentation: DBI-Fachforum Energiespeicher - Pilotprojekte, 18.09.2013, Berlin, Germany

Sébastien Bernacchi & Arne H Seifert, Quantification of gas transfer rates & CO2 utilisation in CELBICON and ENGICOIN, October 2020, CO2OLING THE EARTH - Summer school, Athens, Greece, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28705.74085

Bernacchi, S., Seifert, A., Rittmann, S., Krajete, A., Biological Methanation for Intermittent Power Storage, Presentation: 2. OTTI-Forum „Power to Gas“: Power to Gas Integration von Biogasanlagen & Biologische Methanisierung, Regensburg, Germany, 10.09.2013

Sébastien Bernacchi & Arne Seifert, Development of a high pressure bioreactor system for the production of biomethane from CO2 using an axenic methanogenic culture as biocatalyst, ECAB 5: The 5th EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGY, 2019, Florence, Italy

Rittmann, S., Seifert, A., Bernacchi, S., Prerequisites for pure culture biological methane production - a case study with Methanothermobacter marburgensis, Presentation: 8th International Symposium on Anaerobic Microbiology (ISAM 8), 12.06.2013-15.06.2013, Innsbruck, Austria

Sara Zwirtmayr, Patricia Pappenreiter, Lisa-Maria Mauerhofer, Sébastien Bernacchi, Arne H. Seifert, Alexander Krajete, Simon K. M.R. Rittmann, Christian Paulik, High throughput screening of methanogens under high pressure, ECAB 5: The 5th EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGY, 2019, Florence, Italy

Seifert, A., Bernacchi, S., Benisch, M., Krajete, A., Power to Gas, Presentation: 8.10.2012, OTTI-Forum „Power to Gas“, Regensburg, Germany

Arne Seifert & Sébastien Bernacchi, Development strategies for gas converting bioprocesses - CO2 utilisation in CELBICON and ENGICOIN, September 2019; CO2OLING THE EARTH - Summer school - Science Park - Amsterdam, The Netherlands, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.33241.67686/1

Seifert, A., Herwig, C., Influence of gas/liquid mass transfer on the volumetric production rate and product quality during biological methanogenesis, Presentation: 15th European Congress on Biotechnology, Istanbul, Turkey; 23.09.2012 - 26.09.2012

Taubner, R., Pappenreiter, P., Zwicker, J., Smrzka, D., Pruckner, C., Kolar, P., Bernacchi, S., Seifert, A., Krajete, A., Rittmann, S., Simulating putative Enceladus-like conditions: The possibility of biological methane production on Saturn’s icy moon, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 14(S345), 219-221, 2018, doi: 10.1017/S1743921319001789

Seifert, A., Rittmann, S., Herwig, C., Influence of gas/liquid mass transfer on the volumetric production rate and product quality during biological methanogenesis, Presentation: ProcessNet-Jahrestagung und 30. DECHEMA-Jahrestagung der Biotechnologen, Karlsruhe, Germany; 10.09.2012 - 13.09.2012

Lisa-Maria Mauerhofer, Barbara Reischl, Tilman Schmider, Benjamin Schupp, Patricia Pappenreiter, Sébastien Bernacchi, Arne H. Seifert, Alexander Krajete, Christian Paulik, Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann, Novel insights into the physiology and productivity of a H2/CO2 fermenting methanogen, 7th International Conference on Biotechniques for Air Pollution Control and Bioenergy, 2017, La Coruna, Spain

Seifert, A., Bernacchi, S., Rittmann, S., Herwig, C., Krajete, A., Archäa Mikroorganismen zur biologischen Stromspeicherung, Presentation: 28.8.2012 DVGW, Essen, Germany

Sara Zwirtmayr, Patricia Pappenreiter, Lisa-Maria Mauerhofer, Sebastien Bernacchi, Arne H. Seifert, Alexander Krajete, Simon K.-M. Rittmann and Christian Paulik, Development of a Simultaneous Bioreactor System (SBRS) for high throughput screening and characterization of methanogens at high pressures, 17th Austrian Chemistry Days 2017 - Salzburg/Austria

Seifert, A., Bernacchi, S., Rittmann, S., Herwig, C., Krajete, A., Archaea Microorganisms for Biological Power Storage, Presentation: 2. VDI-Fachkonferenz: Stationäre Energiespeicher für Erneuerbare Energien, 20.06.2012 - 21.06.2012, Karlsruhe, Germany

Patricia Pappenreiter, Lisa-Maria Mauerhofer, Christian Paulik, Simon K.-M. Rittmann, Arne Seifert, Sebastien Bernacchi, Experimental methods for investigations of biomethanation processes at elevated operating pressures, 10th World Congress of Chemical Engineering 2017, Barcelona, Spain

Seifert, A., Herwig, C., Einfluss des Gas/Flüssig-Massentransfers auf die volumetrische Produktionsrate und Produktqualität während der biologischen Methanogenese, Chemie Ingenieur Technik, 2012, 84(8): 1198

Ruth-Sophie Taubner, Patricia Pappenreiter, Christian Pruckner, Jennifer Zwicker, Daniel Smrzka, Sébastien Bernacchi, Arne Seifert, Christian Paulik, Christa Schleper, Maria Gertrude Firneis, Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann, Testing the Habitability of Saturn’s Icy Moon Enceladus in an Interdisciplinary Attempt, Conference: Search for Life: From early Earth to Exoplanets - International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science Education (ICISE), 2016, Quy Nhon, Vietnam

Seifert, A., Rittmann, S., Herwig, C., Biomethane Production from Gaseous Substrates Using Methanogenic Archaea, Poster: 19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Berlin, Germany; 06.06.2011 - 10.06.2011

Bernacchi, S., Seifert, A., Krajete, A., Modular methods for development of gas converting bioprocesses illustrated by the development of Krajete® biomethanation technologies, Workshop on ABE production and CO2/H2 fermentation, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Science, Vienna, Austria, November 2016

Rittmann, S., Seifert, A., Bernacchi, S., Modelling, Qualitative and Quantitative analysis of pure culture biological methane (BMP) from H2 and CO2, Workshop on ABE production and CO2/H2 fermentation, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Science, Vienna, Austria, November 2016

Bernacchi, S., Herwig, C., Application of a modular and interdisciplinary approach to the development of a biological methane production (BMP) process, International Conference for Renewable Gas technology (REGATEC 2015), 2015

Academic thesis

An axenic autotrophic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenic culture converting CO2 and H2 to CH4 within a biological methane production (CO2-BMP) process proposed as a model platform for studying gas converting bioprocesses. Sébastien Bernacchi, PhD thesis, April 2018, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24714.08640