Efficient and scalable upcycling of oceanic carbon sources into bioplastic monomers | Nature Catalysis
This study introduces a hybrid electro-biocatalysis system that captures carbon dioxide dissolved in seawater and converts it into useful bioplastic monomers. The process begins with capturing CO₂ from low-concentration oceanic sources (around 2.16 mM dissolved inorganic carbon) with over 70 % efficiency, consuming just ~3 kWh per kilogram CO₂, and maintaining stability over 536 hours. A bismuth-based electrocatalyst then reduces the captured CO₂ to high-purity formic acid at industrially relevant current densities. In the next step, a genetically engineered Vibrio natriegens strain transforms that formate into succinic acid (1.37 g L⁻¹), a precursor for bioplastics. Techno-economic analysis suggests that the CO₂ capture cost is about US $229.9 per tonne, a competitive figure in the negative-emissions landscape. This integrated method demonstrates a promising path for turning the ocean’s carbon reservoir into value-added chemical feedstocks in a scalable, energy-efficient way.
The Key points
- The system targets very dilute CO₂ in seawater (~2.16 mM) rather than concentrated sources.
- CO₂ capture efficiency exceeds 70 %, with energy demand of ~3 kWh per kg CO₂.
- Long-term stability demonstrated over ~536 hours of operation.
- A bismuth-based electrocatalyst converts CO₂ to pure formic acid at ~800 mA cm⁻² (−1.37 V).
- The microbial stage uses engineered Vibrio natriegens to produce succinic acid.
- Achieved succinic acid titer: about 1.37 g L⁻¹.
- Techno-economic modeling estimates capture cost at ≈ US $229.9 per tonne CO₂.
- The method decouples the electrochemical and biological steps for flexibility.
- Presents a route to use oceanic carbon as a feedstock for biochemical synthesis.
- Offers prospects for carbon-negative production of bioplastic intermediates from marine CO₂.
Disclaimer: This preview includes title, image, and description automatically sourced from the original website (www.nature.com) using publicly available metadata / OG tags. All rights, including copyright and content ownership, remain with the original publisher. If you are the content owner and wish to request removal, please contact us from your official email to no_reply@newspaperhunt.com.
