Methanotroph-microalgae cocultures can produce valuable products, including ‘single cell protein’ and other high-value compounds.
A recent publication from previous lab-based research explored the dynamics of microalgae–methanotroph interactions using extremophilic consortia.
Cartin-Caballero, C., Collet, C., Gapes, D.,Gostomski, P.A., Stott, M.B., Carere, C.R. (2026). Oxygen competition induces chlorosis in thermoacidophilic methanotroph–microalgae cocultures. Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts.
This paper (published in March 2026) focusses on one of the key interactions in these cocultures: interspecies oxygen (O2) transfer. In this process, photosynthetic activity via the microalgae supplies O2 to the methanotroph for CH4 oxidation. The resulting CO2, is then used by the microalgae for growth.
This research paper shows that the interaction between Galdieria sp. RTK37.1 (microalgae) and Methylacidiphilum sp. RTK17.1 (methanotroph) in batch coculture (the two microorganisms being studied in the current pilot scale trial) is governed by O₂ availability and the relative abundance of each partner.
Under O₂ limitation, dilute Methylacidiphilum populations benefit from Galdieria’s oxygenic activity, enhancing CH₄ oxidation and carbon fixation. However, when the methanotroph is more abundant, the high O2 affinity of Methylacidiphilum sp.RTK17.1 depletes available oxygen, disrupting pigment biosynthesis in Galdieria sp. RTK37.1, triggering chlorosis, and ultimately suppressing coculture growth.
These findings offer practical guidelines for designing and optimising CH₄/CO₂ co-utilisation systems.
