Ectoine production from biogas: A sensitivity analysis. Effect of local commodity prices, economy of scale, market trends and biotechnological limitations

The utilization of methanotrophic haloalkaliphilic bacteria for the production ectoine in waste treatment plants has demonstrated a great potential to upgrade traditional use biogas as energy vector and current industrial routes this high added-value chemical (600–1000 €·kg −1 ). However, influence socio-economic aspects such location plant, economy scale market fluctuations on profitability process remains unknown. A techno-economic sensitivity analysis bioconversion CH 4 into bubble column bioreactor extraction purification via ionic exchange chromatography was herein conducted using Madrid base-case scenario. geographical assessment performed 13 representative cities revealed differences costs, ranging from 158 231 . evidenced dependence costs towards scale, amounting 782 164 when manufacturing 0.1 89.6 t ectoine·y , respectively. study also showed robustness -ectoine future fluctuations, with all scenarios analyzed guaranteeing internal rates return >15% payback periods <10 y. Finally, identified improvement elimination capacity bioreactors, development highly efficient microbial strains selection highest quality resins key factors impacting biogas-to-ectoine biorefineries. • Geographical variability ranged costs. -based exhibited changes product price. indicated main biotechnological limitations process. Boosting solubility gas-liquid reactors is