Sustainable production and commercialization of valuable pigments from cyanobacteria
Photosynthetic microbes convert CO2 into useful bioproducts. How can we optimize their productivity?
Project type:
BSc, MSc, PUK
Keywords:
Microbiology; Biochemistry; Biology; Biotechnology
Project description:
Photosynthetic microbes such as microalgae and cyanobacteria are nature’s solar-powered factories that efficiently convert atmospheric CO2 into valuable bioproducts. Among these are organic pigments that function in light harvesting and in protection against solar and oxidative stress, thereby enabling the organisms to thrive in dynamic and stressful environments. Many of these pigments are of commercial interest in food, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.
This project explores the biosynthesis and functional roles of these pigments in model organisms, with the aim of elucidating their functions, optimizing their production, and assessing their commercial potential. The research activities include microbial cultivation and biochemical and physiological analytical techniques including HPLC.
By exploiting the natural diversity and metabolic flexibility of photosynthetic microbes, the project supports the development of sustainable biotechnological platforms. These organisms require minimal inputs, rely on sunlight and CO2, and offer a low-impact alternative to conventional chemical synthesis, which positions them as key players in the transition toward greener production systems.
The project is carried out in collaboration with the company Lifebloom, Denmark.
Contact:
Niels-Ulrik Frigaard (nuf@bio.ku.dk).
The project will be carried out at the Marine Biological Section in Elsinore.
https://www1.bio.ku.dk/english/research/mbs/frigaard-lab/