University of Manchester have used cyanobacteriato convert carbon dioxide into valuable bio-based materials.
Cyanobacteria have shown promise to produce citramalate, a key component for making sustainable plastics like Perspex.
The University of Manchester team says that these photosynthetic microorganisms showcase the ability to transform CO2, a major greenhouse gas, into useful materials.
This research can significantly speed up the creation of eco-friendly alternatives to plastics, which is typically made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. Moreover, it supports a circular bioeconomy, minimizing waste and reducing our carbon footprint for a more sustainable future.
23-fold increase in citramalate production
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are tiny organisms that use sunlight to convert CO2 into organic matter. Notably, they offer a sustainable alternative to traditional methods by producing valuable products from CO2. They do so without the need for agricultural resources like sugar or corn.
However, their slow growth and limited efficiency have hindered their widespread use in industry.
“Our research addresses one of the key bottlenecks in using cyanobacteria for sustainable manufacturing,” said Matthew Faulkner, the lead researcher.
“By optimising how these organisms convert carbon into useful products, we’ve taken an important step toward making this technology commercially viable,” Faulkner added.
The research focused on Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a common cyanobacterial strain. They genetically modified the train to facilitate conversion of carbon dioxide to bio-based materials.
This research aimed to enhance the production of citramalate.
Citramalate is produced in a single enzymatic step by combining two metabolites: pyruvate and acetyl-CoA. By carefully adjusting factors like light intensity, CO2 levels, and nutrient availability, the researchers achieved a substantial increase in citramalate production.
Citramalate production was increased 23-fold through the optimization of key process parameters, as per the study.
Can be used to create other materials apart from plastics
Initially, the researchers produced only small amounts of citramalate.
Later, they employed a systematic “design of experiment” approach to investigate how different factors interact.
This increased citramalate production. “As a result, they increased citramalate production to 6.35 grams per litre (g/L) in 2-litre photobioreactors, with a productivity rate of 1.59 g/L/day,” the researchers revealed in the press release.
The technique could also be used to create other eco-friendly materials. This is because pyruvate and acetyl-CoA are also used to create many other important biomolecules.
Therefore, this method could be used in the production of materials for biofuels to pharmaceuticals.
The researchers highlight that this development contributes to global efforts to combat climate change and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
“This work underscores the importance of a circular bioeconomy,” said Matthew.
“By turning CO2 into something valuable, we’re not just reducing emissions—we’re creating a sustainable cycle where carbon becomes the building block for the products we use every day,” the author added.
They now aim to further fine-tune their techniques and investigate ways to increase production efficiently.
Furthermore, they are exploring how their optimization approach could be used for other metabolic pathways within cyanobacteria. This could help expand the range of sustainably produced bio-based products.
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The findings were published in Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts.
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Mrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.
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