Single-cell protein production from CO2 and electricity with a recirculating anaerobic-aerobic bioprocess
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) represents a promising approach for converting CO2 into organic chemicals. However, its industrial application is hindered by low-value products, such as acetate and methane, and insufficient productivity. To address these limitations, coupling acetate production via...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Environmental Science and Ecotechnology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666498425000031 |
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| author | Zeyan Pan Yuhan Guo Weihe Rong Sheng Wang Kai Cui Wenfang Cai Zhihui Shi Xiaona Hu Guokun Wang Kun Guo |
| author_facet | Zeyan Pan Yuhan Guo Weihe Rong Sheng Wang Kai Cui Wenfang Cai Zhihui Shi Xiaona Hu Guokun Wang Kun Guo |
| author_sort | Zeyan Pan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) represents a promising approach for converting CO2 into organic chemicals. However, its industrial application is hindered by low-value products, such as acetate and methane, and insufficient productivity. To address these limitations, coupling acetate production via MES with microbial upgrading to higher-value compounds offers a viable solution. Here we show an integrated reactor that recirculates a cell-free medium between an MES reactor hosting anaerobic homoacetogens (Acetobacterium) and a continuously stirred tank bioreactor hosting aerobic acetate-utilizing bacteria (Alcaligenes) for efficient single-cell protein (SCP) production from CO₂ and electricity. The reactor achieved a maximum cell dry weight (CDW) of 17.4 g L−1, with an average production rate of 1.5 g L−1 d−1. The protein content of the biomass reached 74% of the dry weight. Moreover, the integrated design significantly reduced wastewater generation, mitigated product inhibition, and enhanced SCP production. These results demonstrate the potential of this integrated reactor for the efficient and sustainable production of high-value bioproducts from CO2 and electricity using acetate as a key intermediate. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8b018e0035f34978985bed2e1c80d8c7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-4984 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Science and Ecotechnology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8b018e0035f34978985bed2e1c80d8c72025-08-20T01:55:41ZengElsevierEnvironmental Science and Ecotechnology2666-49842025-03-012410052510.1016/j.ese.2025.100525Single-cell protein production from CO2 and electricity with a recirculating anaerobic-aerobic bioprocessZeyan Pan0Yuhan Guo1Weihe Rong2Sheng Wang3Kai Cui4Wenfang Cai5Zhihui Shi6Xiaona Hu7Guokun Wang8Kun Guo9School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, ChinaShanghai Zelixir Biotech Company Ltd., Shanghai, 200030, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, ChinaKey Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China; Corresponding author.School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China; Xi’an Key Laboratory of C1 Compound Bioconversion Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China; Corresponding author.Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) represents a promising approach for converting CO2 into organic chemicals. However, its industrial application is hindered by low-value products, such as acetate and methane, and insufficient productivity. To address these limitations, coupling acetate production via MES with microbial upgrading to higher-value compounds offers a viable solution. Here we show an integrated reactor that recirculates a cell-free medium between an MES reactor hosting anaerobic homoacetogens (Acetobacterium) and a continuously stirred tank bioreactor hosting aerobic acetate-utilizing bacteria (Alcaligenes) for efficient single-cell protein (SCP) production from CO₂ and electricity. The reactor achieved a maximum cell dry weight (CDW) of 17.4 g L−1, with an average production rate of 1.5 g L−1 d−1. The protein content of the biomass reached 74% of the dry weight. Moreover, the integrated design significantly reduced wastewater generation, mitigated product inhibition, and enhanced SCP production. These results demonstrate the potential of this integrated reactor for the efficient and sustainable production of high-value bioproducts from CO2 and electricity using acetate as a key intermediate.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666498425000031Microbial electrosynthesisMicrobial acetate upgradingSingle-cell proteinCO2 utilizationAcetate |
| spellingShingle | Zeyan Pan Yuhan Guo Weihe Rong Sheng Wang Kai Cui Wenfang Cai Zhihui Shi Xiaona Hu Guokun Wang Kun Guo Single-cell protein production from CO2 and electricity with a recirculating anaerobic-aerobic bioprocess Environmental Science and Ecotechnology Microbial electrosynthesis Microbial acetate upgrading Single-cell protein CO2 utilization Acetate |
| title | Single-cell protein production from CO2 and electricity with a recirculating anaerobic-aerobic bioprocess |
| title_full | Single-cell protein production from CO2 and electricity with a recirculating anaerobic-aerobic bioprocess |
| title_fullStr | Single-cell protein production from CO2 and electricity with a recirculating anaerobic-aerobic bioprocess |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single-cell protein production from CO2 and electricity with a recirculating anaerobic-aerobic bioprocess |
| title_short | Single-cell protein production from CO2 and electricity with a recirculating anaerobic-aerobic bioprocess |
| title_sort | single cell protein production from co2 and electricity with a recirculating anaerobic aerobic bioprocess |
| topic | Microbial electrosynthesis Microbial acetate upgrading Single-cell protein CO2 utilization Acetate |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666498425000031 |
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