Volume: 2, 2023
2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: E001
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.E001
Published online: 19 April 2023
ICDSUPL, 2, E001 (2023)
Exploring the potential of cyanobacterial microbiomes for sustainable bioproducts
Beatriz Altamira-Algarra1*, Artai Lage1, Joan García1, Eva Gonzalez-Flo1
1 GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d’Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16. Building C5.1, E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
* Corresponding author: beatriz.altamira@upc.edu
Abstract
Photosynthetic microbiomes enriched in cyanobacteria represent a promising technique for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production due to (i) the use CO2 and sunlight for biomass growth and biopolymer synthesis, and (ii) the potential of lowering operational costs because of the use of mixed cultures over pure cultures requiring sterile conditions. In this study, the well-known feast and famine (FF) strategy successfully applied in heterotrophic microbiomes is used for the growth of PHB-producing biomass in a photosynthetic microbiome. Here the FF strategy is used to optimize a photosynthetic microbiome especially rich in unicellular cyanobacteria (Synechococcus sp.). Glass photobioreactors (PBRs) of 2.5 L working volume were operated for 179 days during which FF phases were constantly repeated. In addition, the effect of three parameters (nutrient concentration, temperature and light) on biomass growth and biopolymer synthesis was prior evaluated to set the optimal conditions to operate the PBRs. Acetate (600 mg ·L-1) was added at the beginning of the feast phase as source of organic carbon to boost PHB synthesis, as previous outcomes already show. Results displayed an increase in PHB production from 2 %dcw PHB in the first phase to 22 %dcw PHB after a total of 179 days of reactor operation, suggesting the development of biopolymer-producing biomass. However, production decreases due to the high and undesired presence of green algae. Their survival could be controlled by operational parameters, nevertheless, when green algae abundance is too high, these factors are not enough to control their growth. When the microbiome is rich in cyanobacteria, this information provides a novel operation methodology to enrich a photosynthetic microbiome in PHB-producers.
How to cite
B. Altamira-Algarra, A. Lage, J. García, E. Gonzalez-Flo, 2023. Exploring the potential of cyanobacterial microbiomes for sustainable bioproducts. In: 2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.E001