In China, a groundbreaking study in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology introduces an innovative bioprocess that converts carbon dioxide (CO2) and electricity into single-cell protein (SCP), a sustainable, nutrient-dense food alternative. The system, developed by researchers from Xi’an Jiaotong University and the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, integrates anaerobic and aerobic microbial processes, using acetate as a crucial intermediate.
The process features two interconnected reactors. The first employs microbial electrosynthesis (MES) to transform CO2 into acetate, while the second uses aerobic bacteria, specifically Alcaligenes, to convert acetate into SCP. By continuously cycling the medium between these reactors, the researchers achieved a notable cell dry weight of 17.4 g/L, with a protein content of 74%—outperforming traditional protein sources such as fish meal and soybean meal.
The process also minimizes pH adjustment, reduces wastewater generation, and alleviates product inhibition, enhancing both sustainability and efficiency.
