Biomanufacturing from gaseous C1 feedstocks: A perspective on opportunities and challenges

Highlights • C 1 gases offer a sustainable feedstock for biomanufacturing of fuels and chemicals. This work analyzed bioconversion methods, challenges, and safety, and emphasizes the need for improved technology to enable commercialization. This perspective describes the spectrum and sources of CO 2 , CO, and CH 4 and the emerging opportunities in microbial bioconversion and bioelectrochemical processes for these feedstocks. We also discuss existing challenges in bioprocess development that restrict the commercialization of C 1 biomanufacturing technologies. Details on different aerobic and anaerobic bioconversion avenues of C 1 feedstocks employing pure and mixed cultures and the suitability of each scenario for producing specific molecules are discussed. Besides strain engineering and bioprocess constraints the review also addresses otherwise overlooked factors that limit the generation of efficient and reliable bioprocesses associated with technology availability for research and safety considerations. We then discuss and recommend the required safety features and technological research tools for developing fast, safe, and efficient bioprocesses using gaseous feedstocks to support the scale-up and commercialization of C 1 biomanufacturing technologies. Single-carbon (C 1 ) substrates including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane are abundantly available from natural and anthropogenic sources and present potential feedstocks for biomanufacturing. Utilizing these C 1 gas feedstocks in bioprocesses for sustainable production of chemicals and fuels could prove pivotal in removing excess carbon from the atmosphere. This perspective describes the spectrum and sources of CO 2 , CO, and CH 4 and examines emerging opportunities in microbial bioconversion and bioelectrochemical processes for these feedstocks. We discuss existing challenges in bioprocess development that currently restrict the commercialization of C 1 biomanufacturing technologies. We detail different aerobic and anaerobic bioconversion approaches for C 1 feedstocks employing pure and mixed cultures and examine the suitability of each scenario for producing specific molecules. Beyond strain engineering and bioprocess constraints, we address often overlooked factors that limit the development of efficient and reliable bioprocesses, including technology availability for research and safety considerations. We then discuss and recommend the necessary safety features and technological research tools for developing fast, safe, and efficient bioprocesses using gaseous feedstocks to support the scale-up and commercialization of C 1 biomanufacturing technologies. This perspective provides an overview of the current scientific and industrial state of the art and offers insights into future technological needs that must be addressed to realize the potential of biomanufacturing from gaseous feedstocks. Synopsis: C 1 gases offer a sustainable feedstock for biomanufacturing of fuels and chemicals. This work analyzes bioconversion methods, challenges, and safety considerations, and emphasizes the need for improved technology to enable commercialization. Harnessing single-carbon waste gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane as feedstocks for biomanufacturing offers a transformative opportunity to address climate change by upcycling abundant waste into valuable chemicals and fuels, while advancing sustainable industrial practices and driving innovation in microbial and bioelectrochemical technologies.