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Liu H, Yu S, Liu B, Xiang S, Jiang M, Yang F, Tan W, Zhou J, Xiao M, Li X, Richardson JJ, Lin W, Zhou J. Space-Efficient 3D Microalgae Farming with Optimized Resource Utilization for Regenerative Food. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2401172. [PMID: 38483347 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202401172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Photosynthetic microalgae produce valuable metabolites and are a source of sustainable food that supports life without compromising arable land. However, the light self-shading, excessive water supply, and insufficient space utilization in microalgae farming have limited its potential in the inland areas most in need of regenerative food solutions. Herein, this work develops a 3D polysaccharide-based hydrogel scaffold for vertically farming microalgae without needing liquid media. This liquid-free strategy is compatible with diverse microalgal species and enables the design of living microalgal frameworks with customizable architectures that enhance light and water utilization. This approach significantly increases microalgae yield per unit water consumption, with an 8.8-fold increase compared to traditional methods. Furthermore, the dehydrated hydrogels demonstrate a reduced size and weight (≈70% reduction), but readily recover their vitality upon rehydration. Importantly, valuable natural products can be produced in this system including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and carotenoids. This study streamlines microalgae regenerative farming for low-carbon biomanufacturing by minimizing light self-shading, relieving water supply, and reducing physical footprints, and democratizing access to efficient aquatic food production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Liu
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering of Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Siqin Yu
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Health, Institute for Advanced Study, College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Shuhong Xiang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Minwen Jiang
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering of Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Fan Yang
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering of Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Weiwei Tan
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering of Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Jianfei Zhou
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering of Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
- Research Institute of Leather and Footwear Industry of Wenzhou, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Ming Xiao
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Xiaojie Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Health, Institute for Advanced Study, College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Joseph J Richardson
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Wei Lin
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering of Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Jiajing Zhou
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering of Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
- Research Institute of Leather and Footwear Industry of Wenzhou, Wenzhou, 325000, China
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Dranseike D, Cui Y, Ling AS, Donat F, Bernhard S, Bernero M, Areeckal A, Qin XH, Oakey JS, Dillenburger B, Studart AR, Tibbitt MW. Dual carbon sequestration with photosynthetic living materials. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.22.572991. [PMID: 38187760 PMCID: PMC10769394 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.22.572991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Natural ecosystems offer efficient pathways for carbon sequestration, serving as a resilient approach to remove CO2 from the atmosphere with minimal environmental impact. However, the control of living systems outside of their native environments is often challenging. Here, we engineered a photosynthetic living material for dual CO2 sequestration by immobilizing photosynthetic microorganisms within a printable polymeric network. The carbon concentrating mechanism of the cyanobacteria enabled accumulation of CO2 within the cell, resulting in biomass production. Additionally, the metabolic production of OH- ions in the surrounding medium created an environment for the formation of insoluble carbonates via microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). Digital design and fabrication of the living material ensured sufficient access to light and nutrient transport of the encapsulated cyanobacteria, which were essential for long-term viability (more than one year) as well as efficient photosynthesis and carbon sequestration. The photosynthetic living materials sequestered approximately 2.5 mg of CO2 per gram of hydrogel material over 30 days via dual carbon sequestration, with 2.2 ± 0.9 mg stored as insoluble carbonates. Over an extended incubation period of 400 days, the living materials sequestered 26 ± 7 mg of CO2 per gram of hydrogel material in the form of stable minerals. These findings highlight the potential of photosynthetic living materials for scalable carbon sequestration, carbon-neutral infrastructure, and green building materials. The simplicity of maintenance, coupled with its scalability nature, suggests broad applications of photosynthetic living materials as a complementary strategy to mitigate CO2 emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Dranseike
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
| | - Yifan Cui
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
| | - Andrea S. Ling
- Digital Building Technologies, Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
| | - Felix Donat
- Laboratory of Energy Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
| | - Stéphane Bernhard
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
| | - Margherita Bernero
- Institute for Biomechanics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
| | - Akhil Areeckal
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
| | - Xiao-Hua Qin
- Institute for Biomechanics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
| | - John S. Oakey
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, US
| | | | - André R. Studart
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
| | - Mark W. Tibbitt
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH
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