(German title: Nährstoffarme Emers-Fermentation terrestrischer Cyanobakterien zur Produktion biotechnischer Wertstoffe)

Terrestrial cyanobacteria are characterised by a high degree of adaptation to extreme locations such as hot and cold deserts. They can achieve comparatively high productivity in these locations despite limiting nutrient, light and water availability. Although this physiological efficiency indicates biotechnologically and economically valuable substances, these aerophilic organisms have not been used biotechnologically so far, as they are growth-limited under conventional submerged fermentation conditions.

The aim of this project is therefore to realise a new bioreactor concept in order to be able to cultivate these groups of organisms and test them for valuable substances in the future. The emerse aerosol-exposed production process offers advantages in terms of light and CO2 supply as well as nutrient allocation and controlled water supply for the cyanobacteria. In addition, by setting defined conditions, this fermentation method also enables targeted drying of the cyanobacteria, which can correlate with a change in quality or increase in quantity of certain valuable substances. Automated qualitative and quantitative production control is being sought during the project using non-invasive chlorophyll fluorescence technology, which is to be verified using stable isotope analyses.