Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a carbon black pigment from a microbial biomass. In certain aspects, the method involves providing a microbial biomass solution with a plurality microbial cells in an aqueous solvent; nucleating the plurality of microbial cells by adding a first soluble ion to the microbial biomass solution; initiating crystal formation in and/or on the plurality of microbial cells by adding a second soluble ion to the microbial biomass solution, forming a plurality of crystal encrusted microbial cells, where the charge of the first soluble ion is the opposite of the charge of the second soluble ion and where the crystals are formed from precipitation of the first and second ions; and performing thermal processing of the plurality of crystal encrusted microbial cells to form a charred biomass; washing the charred biomass to form a microbechar.

Abstract: The disclosed method and related systems and devices relate to producing a pigment from microbial biomass. The pigment may be an engineered black pigment. The method may include a thermal processing step where the microbial biomass is charred. The biomass in the charred and pre-charred state can be washed chemically and/or mechanically. In another step the biomass is ground via a grinding of milling process. The grinding/milling may occur at any various points in the process. In some embodiments the biomass has a particle size between 0.01 and 100 microns.