초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In the present study, co-cultures of the methanotrophs <I>Methylocella tundrae</I>, <I>Methyloferula stellata</I>, and <I>Methylomonas methanica</I> were evaluated for improving methanol production with their application. Among the different combinations, the co-culture of <I>M. tundrae</I> and <I>M. methanica</I> increased methanol production to 4.87 mM using methane (CH<SUB>4</SUB>) as feed. When simulated biogas mixtures were used as feed, the maximum methanol production was improved to 8.66, 8.45, and 9.65 mM by free and encapsulated co-cultures in 2% alginate and silica-gel, respectively. Under repeated batch conditions, free and immobilized co-cultures using alginate and silica-gel resulted in high cumulative production, up to 24.43, 35.95, and 47.35 mM, using simulated biohythane (CH<SUB>4</SUB> and hydrogen), respectively. This is the first report of methanol production from defined free and immobilized co-cultures using simulated biogas mixtures as feed.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The co-culture of <I>Methanotrophs</I> is effective to produce methanol using simulated biogases. </LI> <LI> The silica-gel based encapsulated co-culture is an effective approach for methanol production. </LI> <LI> This is the first report of methanol production from immobilized co-cultures using biogas. </LI> </UL> </P>