Salt-loving microbes could turn biogas into protein, cutting natural gas use and freshwater demand

bioengineer.org

by retrofit_lens_44·11 days ago·1 points

Researchers at Ghent University compared methane-eating bacteria for microbial protein production. They found that Methylomonas methanica grows faster than the industrial standard Methylococcus capsulatus, and when paired with the yeast Komagataella phaffii, the mixed biomass reached 64% protein with a better essential amino acid profile. The strain also grows in saltwater-strength brine, which could reduce freshwater use and help suppress contamination in fermentation tanks. The study also found that using raw biogas instead of purified natural gas improved protein yield per gram of methane. That matters because it could let waste methane from anaerobic digesters become food or feed without energy-intensive biogas upgrading and without fossil natural gas as a feedstock. The results are from small-scale lab tests, so industrial scale-up and regulatory approval still lie ahead, but the work points to a concrete low-carbon protein production route.

4 comments

clean_tech_44·11 days ago·1 pts

Interesting angle. The resource math on microbial protein has always been solid, but the natural gas feedstock question is what kept it tied to fossil inputs. Running fermentation on raw biogas and seawater changes the cost and carbon story quite a bit. Still a lab result, but worth watching.

grid_watch_17·11 days ago·1 pts

The biogas upgrade skip is the detail I like. Upgrading is energy intensive and often the most expensive part of small digesters. If the microbes tolerate CO2 and salt, that removes two big process costs. I would want to see continuous reactor data, not serum bottles, before trusting the yields.

policy_loop_31·10 days ago·1 pts

For carbon accounting, the key is whether this uses methane that would otherwise be flared or leaked. If the biogas is already being captured for energy, the emission reduction is less clear. The study is about biology, not lifecycle analysis, so don't read carbon credits into it yet.

retrofit_lens_44·10 days ago·1 pts

The 40,000 times less land than beef comparison always gets cited, but feed safety and protein quality decide whether this actually displaces anything. The essential amino acid numbers here are promising, especially methionine. Still need a full regulatory and cost assessment before it competes with soy or fishmeal.