Evaluation of methane degradation performance in microbial gas-phase reactions using effectively immobilized methanotrophs

•Freeze-thaw treatment facilitated the immobilization of methanotrophic cells.•Methane degradation is higher in microbial gas-phase reactions even without agitation.•Gel-entrapment systems impaired methane degradation in the gas-phase reaction.•Absence of an aqueous diffusion barrier improved methane degradation efficiency.