Microbial electrosynthesis!

A research team from the University of Washington modified a bacterium called Rhodopseudomonas palustris so that it can use only three renewable, naturally abundant raw materials: carbon dioxide, produced by solar panels Electricity and light are used to produce biofuels

background

The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2), which has inspired scientists to study the conversion of CO2 to biofuels.

The anaerobic photosynthetic autotrophic organism Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 (TIE-1) can use various carbon sources, such as atmospheric CO2 and organic acids (which can be easily obtained from organic waste).

Highlights

Based on these two points, researchers from the University of Washington introduced the n-butanol biosynthesis pathway into the anaerobic (anaerobic) photoautotrophic organism Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 (TIE-1), realizing the Type TIE-1, mutants lacking the nitrogen fixation pathway, and mutants lacking the acetyl-CoA depletion (polyhydroxybutyrate and glycogen synthesis) pathway synthesize n-butanol

The n-butanol biosynthetic pathway includes five genes

"Microbes have evolved a series of fascinating ways to obtain nutrients from their surroundings," Bose said

Microbes that live by microbial electrosynthesis are directly connected to the negatively charged cathode in the MES reactor so that they can "eat" electricity

Producing sustainable biofuels

Bai said: "As far as we know, this research represents the first attempt to produce biofuels using a microbial electrosynthesis platform driven by solar panels.