Synthetic anaerobic biofilms for the conversion of synthesis gas using Clostridium carboxidivorans and Clostridium kluyveri

(M.Sc. Josha Herzog)

C. carboxidivorans (gas fermentation) and CO-sensitive C. kluyveri (chain elongation) can be combined in a single bioreactor for the autotrophic conversion of CO-containing gases to medium-chain carboxylic acids. By arranging two synthetic hydrogel biofilms between the gas and liquid phases, CO is consumed in the first biofilm by C. carboxidivorans, allowing C. kluyveri to convert the resulting C2 products unhindered into 1-hexanoate (7.6-fold higher productivity than in suspension cultures).

Publications

• Herzog J, Gregg S, Gröninger L, Kastlunger F, Poppe J, Uhlig V, Wei Y, Weuster-Botz D (2025): Co-immobilization of Clostridium carboxidivorans and Clostridium kluyveri in a synthetic dual-layer biofilm for syngas conversion. Appl Sci 15: 9800.
• Herzog J, Blums K, Gregg S, Gröninger L, Poppe J, Uhlig V, Wang Q, Weuster-Botz D (2025): Synthetic biofilm reactor with independent supply of gas and liquid phase for studying chain elongation with immobilized Clostridium kluyveri at defined reaction conditions. Fermentation 11: 200.
• Herzog J, Jäkel AC, Simmel FC, Weuster-Botz D (2025): Immobilization and monitoring of Clostridium carboxidivorans and Clostridium kluyveri in synthetic biofilms. Microorganisms 13: 387.
• Herzog J, Franke L, Lai Y, Gomez Rossi P, Sachtleben J, Weuster-Botz D (2024): 3D bioprinting of microorganisms: principles and applications. Bioproc Biosys Eng 47: 443–461.