Publication: Photoautotrophic Fermentation

Jonas Kollmen and Dorina Strieth are the authors of the chapter “Photoautotrophic Fermentation” as part of the book “Microbial Fermentation.” The book is published by Springer Nature as part of the “Cell Engineering” book series.

Photoautotrophic fermentation offers advantages in terms of sustainability compared to conventional biotechnological processes and, consequently, also compared to chemical syntheses. Through photosynthesis, CO₂ can be used as a carbon source to produce biomass and valuable materials. Microalgae and cyanobacteria are microorganisms used for photoautotrophic fermentation. The fields of application range from the direct use of biomass as a food supplement or biofertilizer to the production of biofuels and applications in pharmaceuticals or cosmetics. This chapter deals with the challenges of photoautotrophic fermentations, especially regarding light availability, nutrient supply, and reactor design. It provides an overview of the historical development of photobioreactors (PBRs), from simple open ponds to specialized PBRs, and compares the different concepts in terms of their performance. Microalgae and cyanobacteria are already being used in industrial production, and a selection of established processes is summarized in this chapter. Furthermore, recent research trends such as biofilm-based photobioreactors are highlighted, which further advance the development of photoautotrophic fermentation. This chapter emphasizes the importance of further development of processes for the use of cyanobacteria and microalgae as production organisms, as they can make a decisive contribution to the sustainable design of value chains.

Kollmen, J., Strieth, D. (2026). Photoautotrophic Fermentation. In: Pörtner, R., Al-Rubeai, M. (eds) Microbial Fermentation. Cell Engineering, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-17514-4_6