Recently, LanzaTech has developed a novel microbial bioreactor system capable of directly producing ethanol from carbon-containing gases through gas fermentation. The related study used life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to quantify the global warming potential of various scenarios for producing renewable ethanol using the LanzaTech process.

The study considered different feedstock scenarios for ethanol production, including the use of steel mill waste gases, as well as biomass such as corn stover, forest residues, or switchgrass converted to ethanol via gasification. Input data were sourced from peer-reviewed literature, government reports, life cycle inventory databases, and LanzaTech process engineering estimates.

The assessment results show that, using standardized LCA methods, ethanol produced via the LanzaTech fermentation process has greenhouse gas emissions at least 60% lower than conventional fossil gasoline. When produced from biomass feedstocks, emissions can be reduced by nearly 90%.

These findings indicate that LanzaTech's gas fermentation technology offers a viable alternative for producing next-generation biofuels, capable of meeting the policy requirements of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard for fuels with reduced greenhouse gas emission footprints.