Cultivation of methanotrophic bacteria in a novel bubble-free membrane bioreactor for microbial protein production

•Methane and oxygen diffused via hydrophobic membranes.•Explosive atmospheres were avoided in the fermenters.•Ammonia was fully assimilated by the methanotrophic enrichment.•Enrichments are more robust against methane supply variability. Microbial protein is proposed as an alternative protein source...

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