New waves underneath the purple strain

Abstract

Successful merging of chemical and biotechnological operations is essential to achieve cost-efficient industrialization of bio-based processes. The demonstration of the use of syngas, derived from microwave assisted pyrolysis of municipal solid waste, for the improved growth and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production in Rhodospirillium rubrum, stands out as an example of the synergistic contribution of chemical engineering and applied microbiology to sustainable biomaterial manufacturing, paving the way to similar applications for other syngas derived bioproducts.