Improving methanol production by Methylosinus trichosporium through the one factor at a time (OFAT) approach

The technology of methanol production from the fermentation of methanol‐producing bacteria (methanotroph) is still in the research phase. Maximizing the methanol production through bacteria fermentation in this process is a challenge to researchers. By optimizing the biological process, this technology can potentially fill the demand gap in methanol industries. Methylosinus trichosporium is a methanotroph that is used for the production of methanol in this analysis. Using OD600 analysis, the rate and growth profile for M. trichosporium is determined. The one factor at a time (OFAT) method was chosen to optimize the methanol production (percentage of methane, pH, and phosphate ion), and the optimum condition for this bacterium was determined. M. trichosporium showed a specific growth rate at 0.02 h–1 with the exponential phase reaching the maximum at 90 h of the cultivation period. Optimization analysis showed that the maximum methanol production by this bacterium was at a 1:1 methane–air ratio, a pH of 6.3–6.5, and 40 mM of phosphate ions. The ability of M. trichosporium to produce methanol was proved in this analysis with the maximum rate of production at 0.072 mg L–1 h–1.