Bioelectrochemical protein production valorizing NH3-rich pig manure-derived wastewater and CO2 from anaerobic digestion
Bioelectrochemical protein production exploiting microbial electrosynthesis cell is a recent technology that allows to produce microbial protein by supplying carbon dioxide, a source of nitrogen and electrons as reducing power by means of cathode. That approach can help in greenhouse gas emission reduction feeding the bioreactor with CO2-rich stream from differ-ent punctual and stationary emitters, such as anaerobic digestion plants, and in the reduction of nitrogen environmental overloading by feeding the microorganisms with livestock efflu-ents rich in NH3. In this study, the lower cathode polarization stimulated the microbial biomass growth and simultaneously improved the ammonia removal ability of the microorganisms, making them able to accumulate protein . Furthermore, the amino acids profile was characterized, highlighting the high nutri-tional value of the produced biomass compared to conventional protein sources.