Integrated methanol synthesis and fermentation system

A method of producing whole cells, the method comprising:

• providing, by a media mixing apparatus, a growth medium comprising unrefined methanol generated by a methanol synthesis apparatus;
• metering the growth medium into a fermentation vessel comprising an aqueous fermentation medium;
• introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the aqueous fermentation medium within the fermentation vessel and expanding a population of methylotrophic organisms within the aqueous fermentation medium;
• extracting a portion of the aqueous fermentation medium comprising the whole cells;
• concentrating the whole cells into a first stream and whole cell-depleted fermentation medium into a second stream;
• introducing the first stream into a drying apparatus to dry the whole cells;
• recycling an output stream from the drying apparatus to the methanol synthesis apparatus and the media mixing apparatus, wherein the output stream from the drying apparatus comprises low temperature steam;
• and
• directing the output stream to a cooling tower to condense the low temperature steam to an aqueous liquid prior to recycling the output stream from the drying apparatus to the methanol synthesis apparatus and/or the media mixing apparatus.