Harnessing nature's palette: Exploring photosynthetic pigments for sustainable biotechnology.

Photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, microalgae, and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB) have emerged as sustainable and economic biotechnology platforms due to their ability to transform energy from light into chemicals through photosynthesis. The light is absorbed by photosynthetic pigment-protein antenna complexes which are composed of pigments such as bacteriochlorophylls (BChl) and carotenoids in APB, and chlorophylls (Chl), phycobiliproteins (PBP), and carotenoids in cyanobacteria and microalgae. These photosynthetic pigments are essential in the physiology of photosynthetic microorganisms and offer significant health benefits due to their potent antioxidant activity, with properties that include anticancer, antiaging, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects.

Pilot-scale biogas desulfurization through anoxic biofiltration.

In this study, the performance of a pilot-scale biotrickling filter (BTF) for anoxic hydrogen sulfide (HS) removal from real biogas was evaluated over 226 days. The BTF, inoculated with activated sludge from a nearby wastewater treatment plant, operated in an industrial environment with raw biogas from an anaerobic digester fed with municipal solid waste. The operating strategy was based on controlling nitrate consumption by sulfur-oxidizing nitrate-reducing (SO-NR) bacteria.

Improving photosynthetic biogas purification via process aeration and nanoparticle supplementation.

This study evaluated the influence of nanoparticles in both suspension and solid format on the performance of a microalgal process devoted to photosynthetic biogas purification. The experimental system consisted of an enclosed tubular photobioreactor coupled to a biogas absorption column through a mixing chamber. The high NH concentration in the inlet mineral medium (530 mg N-NH L) and the punctual addition of 115 mL of nanoparticle suspension to the system caused inhibition of the microalgal-bacterial cultivation.

Evaluation of the influence of the gas residence time and biomass concentration on methane bioconversion to ectoines in a novel Taylor flow bioreactor.

Today, the use of biogas to produce more sustainable bioproducts is attracting an increasing attention in the quest for a circular economy. This work aims at optimizing the biosynthesis of high value bioproducts such as ectoine and hydroxyectoine from methane using a high mass transfer Taylor flow reactor and a methanotrophic consortium. The influence of the gas residence time (30-240 min) and concentration of microorganisms (0.

Syngas biological transformation into hydroxyectoine.

Syngas from the gasification of organic wastes represents a promising feedstock for fostering a sustainable bioeconomy. However, its potential is currently constrained by the low-value products generated. Osmolytes, such as hydroxyectoine, are high-value compounds, however, their biological production as isolated osmolytes is not yet cost-effective.