Ruiz-Ruiz, Patricia and Gomez Borraz, Tania L. and Saldivar, Alexis and Hernandez, Sergio and Morales-Ibarria, Marcia and Revah, Sergio (2024) Diluted methane mitigation by a co-culture of alkaliphilic methanotrophs and the microalgae Scenedesmus obtusiusculus towards carbon neutrality. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 203: 109211. ISSN 1369-703X

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Abstract

A co-culture of an alkaliphilic methanotrophic consortium and the microalga Scenedesmus obtusiusculus was designed to consume CH4 and CO2 from diluted CH4 streams under alkaline conditions to favor CO2 retention. The highest CH4 consumption rate in batch assays was 318 mgCH4 gbiomass−1 d−1 with 8 % initial CH4 and nitrate as the nitrogen source. Subsequently, the co-culture was evaluated in a photobioreactor with batch and fed-batch CH4 feeds. Under continuous illumination, the CH4 consumption rate reached 258 mgCH4 gbiomass−1 d−1, but the pH increased to 9.8. After a photonic pH control implementation, the pH remained at 9.1 ± 0.05 with a consumption rate of 196 mgCH4 gbiomass−1 d−1. The co-culture exhibited continuous activity, synchronized growth, and long-term stability, effectively removing both gases in a single reactor. Moreover, the co-culture's biomass showed an increase in reserve molecules, including carbohydrates and lipids, with protein as the primary product (40–52 % DCW), offering potential as a microbial protein source. The photonic pH control exhibited a rapid response, substituting the traditional acid/alkali addition method, which increases salinity, medium volume, and operational costs. The methanotroph-microalgae co-culture is a successful, robust, and stable alternative for diluted methane mitigation, resulting in nearly zero carbon emissions and valuable biomass production.

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