Creating value from purple phototrophic bacteria via single-cell protein production. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hülsen, Tim; Barnes, Andrew C; Batstone, Damien J; Capson-Tojo, Gabriel
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in biotechnology. Volume 76(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 660.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102726
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-1669

Abstract

Abstract : Mixed culture purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) is a rapidly emerging technology for resource recovery from wastewaters. PPB biomass can be used as single-cell protein, with a high protein content complemented by value-added components (e.g. pigments and polyhydroxyalkanoates), merging functionalities within a single product. This has the potential to increase the value and impact the economic feasibility, justifying higher capital costs for PPB photobioreactors for real-life applications. Artificial illumination is prohibitively expensive, and naturally illuminated, outdoor units are a critical next step. However, information required for informed technoeconomic assessment of single-cell protein from PPB is still missing and can only be determined in dedicated larger-scale, outdoor systems. Larger scale units are also required to supply feed for larger cohort trials. Although data from microalgae research can be used as starting point to estimate costs, they cannot be translated directly for PPB, as the organisms and metabolic growth are fundamentally different. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: Microalgae cost-benefit data for SCP are not directly applicable to PPB. Capital and operational costs of PPB systems are largely unknown. Feed value can be enhanced by pigments and biopolymers. Scaled data from outdoor reactors is essential to perform technoeconomic analysis.