Microbial food from light, carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas: Kinetic, stoichiometric and nutritional potential of three purple bacteria

The urgency for a protein transition towards more sustainable solutions is one of the major societal challenges. Microbial alternative routes, in which land- and fossil-free production should be targeted. photohydrogenotrophic growth purple bacteria, builds on H2– CO2-economy, unexplored its microbial potential. three tested species (Rhodobacter capsulatus, Rhodobacter sphaeroides Rhodopseudomonas palustris) obtained promising rates (2.3–2.7 d−1 at 28°C) productivities (0.09–0.12 g L−1 d−1), rendering them likely faster productive than microalgae. achieved yields (2.6–2.9 g−1 H2) transcended ones aerobic hydrogen oxidizing bacteria. Furthermore, all provided full dietary matches humans their fatty acid content was dominated by vaccenic (82–86%). Given kinetic nutritional performance we recommend to consider capsulatus as high-potential source food.