Cellulose nanocrystals coated with a tannic acid-Fe3+ complex as a significant medium for efficient CH4 microbial biotransformation

Microbial biotransformation of CH4 gas has been attractive for the production of energy and high-value chemicals. However, insufficient supply of CH4 in a culture medium needs to be overcome for the efficient utilization of CH4. Here, we utilized cellulose nanocrystals coated with a tannic acid-Fe3+ complex (TA-Fe3+CNCs) as a medium component to enhance the gas-liquid mass-transfer performance. TA-Fe3+CNCs were well suspended in water without agglomeration, stabilized gas bubbles without coalescence, and increased the gas solubility by 20 % and the k(L)(a) value at a rapid inlet gas flow rate. Remarkably, the cell growth rate of Methylomonas sp. DH-1 as model CH4-utilizing bacteria improved with TA-Fe3+CNC concentration without any cytotoxic or antibacterial properties, resulting in higher metabolite production ability such as methanol, pyruvate, formate, and succinate. These results showed that TA-Fe3+CNCs could be utilized as a significant component in the culture medium applicable as a promising nanofluid for efficient CH4 microbial biotransformation.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated the use of TA-Fe3+CNCs as a significant component in the culture medium to enhance the efficiency of microbial biotransformation of CH4. Results showed that TA-Fe3+CNCs could stabilize gas bubbles, increase gas solubility, and improve the cell growth rate of CH4-utilizing bacteria, leading to higher metabolite production.