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From digestate and CO2 to single-cell proteins: combined by-product valorization for circular carbon and nutrient utilization

Year: 2025

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: This study explores the hydrogenotrophic production of valuable single-cell proteins (SCPs) based on the utilization of CO2 from biogas upgrading and nutrients from digestate, by-product of anaerobic digestion (AD), thus contributing to meet the growing global protein demand in a circular way. Experiments conducted under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, utilizing synthetic nutrients and CO2, demonstrated faster microbial growth in aerobic conditions with cell doubling time of 15 ± 2 h in aerobic conditions against 44 ± 0.1 h in anaerobic conditions. After identifying the most productive microbial platform, experiments were conducted using CO2 and nutrients from digestate, after a proper pre-treatment for pathogen removal. Overall, the results highlight the potential to produce SCPs from AD by-products, biomass production almost quadrupled and SCP/biomass ratio increasing by 19%, compared to the utilization of synthetic nutrient sources.

Source: Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17284432

Authors: Di Benedetto, Francesca, Turolla, Andrea, Ficara, Elena, Muñoz, Raul, Cantera, Sara

Institutions: Universidad de Valladolid, Politecnico di Milano

Language: English

Topic: Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7086773549

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