My research theme is structured around the central concept of a biorefinery, wherein the production of biogas from Euglena gracilis would be the final step. The unicellular flagellate Euglena gracilis is able to grow phototrophically in salt media with light and CO₂ as well as in complex media supplemented with organic carbon sources in the absence of light (heterotrophic growth).
The biorefinery concept divides into two essential parts. First, the exploitation of Euglena gracilis as a source of high value products (HVPs). Here, some of the most promising HVPs are α-tocopherol (commonly known as vitamin E) and paramylon, a β-1,3-glucan immunostimulant. Secondly, the residual biomass serves as a substrate for anaerobic digestion as a further process downstream.
The foci of my research are optimization of growth conditions for high biomass yields together with large contents of HVPs besides the investigation of biomethanification using Euglena gracilis biomass as a feedstock for energy.