| Title |
Single-Cell Protein Production from Industrial Off-Gas through Acetate: Techno-Economic Analysis for a Coupled Fermentation Approach |
| ID_Doc |
10871 |
| Authors |
Vlaeminck, E; Uitterhaegen, E; Quataert, K; Delmulle, T; Kontovas, SS; Misailidis, N; Ferreira, RG; Petrides, D; De Winter, K; Soetaert, WK |
| Title |
Single-Cell Protein Production from Industrial Off-Gas through Acetate: Techno-Economic Analysis for a Coupled Fermentation Approach |
| Year |
2023 |
| Published |
Fermentation-Basel, 9, 8 |
| DOI |
10.3390/fermentation9080771 |
| Abstract |
Third-generation (3G) biorefineries harnessing industrial off-gases have received significant attention in the transition towards a sustainable circular economy. However, uncertainties surrounding their techno-economic feasibility are hampering widespread commercialization to date. This study investigates the production of single-cell protein (SCP), a sustainable alternative food and feed protein, from steel mill off-gas through an efficient coupled fermentation approach utilizing acetate as an intermediate. A comprehensive model that comprises both the gas-to-acetate and the acetate-to-SCP fermentation processes, as well as gas pretreatment and downstream processing (DSP) operations, was developed and used to perform a techno-economic analysis (TEA). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that significant cost reductions can be achieved by the process intensification of the gas-to-acetate fermentation. As such, an increase in the acetate concentration to 45 g/L and productivity to 4 g/L/h could lead to a potential cost reduction from 4.15 to 2.78 USD/kg. In addition, the influence of the production scale and other economic considerations towards the commercialization of off-gas-based SCPs are discussed. Conclusively, this research sheds light on the practical viability of a coupled fermentation process for SCP production by identifying key cost-influencing factors and providing targets for further optimization of the acetate platform, fostering sustainable and economically feasible bio-based innovations. |
| Author Keywords |
techno-economic analysis (TEA); third-generation (3G) biorefinery; single-cell protein (SCP); coupled fermentation; acetate; Moorella thermoacetica; Cupriavidus necator; process simulation |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) |
| EID |
WOS:001056132800001 |
| WoS Category |
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; Food Science & Technology |
| Research Area |
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; Food Science & Technology |
| PDF |
https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/8/771/pdf?version=1692370326
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