An automated, modular system for organic waste utilization using heterotrophic alga Galdieria sulphuraria: Design considerations and sustainability

Maximilian Julius Pahmeyer; Shahida Anusha Siddiqui; Daniel Pleissner; Janusz Gołaszewski; Volker Heinz; Sergiy Smetana

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126800

An automated, modular system for organic waste utilization using heterotrophic alga Galdieria sulphuraria: Design considerations and sustainability

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Mar:348:126800. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126800. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Authors

Maximilian Julius Pahmeyer¹, Shahida Anusha Siddiqui², Daniel Pleissner³, Janusz Gołaszewski⁴, Volker Heinz⁵, Sergiy Smetana⁵

Affiliations

¹ German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL e.V.), Prof.-von-Klitzing-Str. 7, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany. Electronic address: max.pahmeyer@gmail.com.
² German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL e.V.), Prof.-von-Klitzing-Str. 7, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany; Technical University of Munich Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, Essigberg 3, 94315 Straubing, Germany.
³ Sustainable Chemistry (Resource Efficiency), Institute of Sustainable Chemistry, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, C13.203, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany; Institute for Food and Environmental Research e. V., Papendorfer Weg 3, 14806 Bad Belzig, Germany.
⁴ Center for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies, Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bioresource Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
⁵ German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL e.V.), Prof.-von-Klitzing-Str. 7, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany.

PMID: 35121101
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126800

Abstract

Large amounts of food are wasted and valuable contents are not utilized completely. Methods to process such wastes into biomass of defined composition automatically and in decentralized locations are lacking. Thus, this study presents a modular design for residue utilization and continuous production of the heterotrophic alga Galdieria sulphuraria. A life cycle and economic assessment are carried out on the hypothetical design to define whether the proposed system can be ecologically and economically viable. Producing one kg of dried biomass would cost 4.38 € and be associated with 3.8 kg CO₂ eq emitted, 69.9 MJ of non-renewable energy use, and 0.09 m² of land occupation. Sustainability is comparable to conventional protein sources, with further improvement foreseen through avoidance of drying. These results demonstrate how circular bioeconomy potentials of residues could be realized using heterotrophic G. sulphuraria. It highlights key issues of developing an environmentally and economically sustainable concept.

Keywords: Food waste; Galdieria sulphuraria; Microalgae; Modular technology; Waste processing.

MeSH terms

Biomass
Food
Heterotrophic Processes
Rhodophyta* / metabolism