Continuous abatement of methane coupled with ectoine production by Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z in stirred tank reactors: A step further towards greenhouse gas biorefineries

This research investigated for the first time the valorization in continuous stirred tank reactors of dilute CH4 emissions into ectoine, a microbial molecule with a high retail value. The results here obtained supported the technical viability of a new generation of GHG biorefineries and revealed that high intra-cellular ectoine yields were obtained using methane and high Cu2+ concentration promoted the excretion to the cultivation broth of 20% of the total ectoine synthesized during continuous operation.247