Harvard University creates bacteria capable of absorbing CO2 and producing energy

Scientists at Harvard University (USA) have just created new genetically modified bacteria that can collect CO2 in the air and convert it into energy. Not only do we reduce excess carbon dioxide, which is negatively impacting the Earth's climate, this success is believed to be able to preserve fossil fuels present on our planet.

In their study with Harvard Medical School biologists designed a genetically modified bacterium called Ralston eutropha , which allows them to absorb hydrogen and carbon dioxide gas, then convert it into alcoholic fuel.

"Right now, we are creating isopropanol, isobutanol, isopentanol, " said Nocera. "This is all the alcohol you can burn directly. It comes from hydrogen produced after splitting water, and breathing CO _2. That's what this bacterium does." Ralston eutropha is responsible for absorbing hydrogen and CO2, then converting them into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) , which supports the conversion to alcohol fuel by special genes inserted into bacteria.

Professor Daniel Nocera, who leads the research team.

Practical applications come from a kind of bacteria that is capable of inhaling CO2, and creating energy is unlimited."They are eating hydrogen, which is the only food source, and then they breathe in CO ₂ , then continue to multiply. They reproduce and grow exponentially," Professor Nocera said.

Nocera is known for inventing artificial leaves five years ago, when he was working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT - USA). At that time, his product was really shocking with the ability to mimic photosynthesis in real leaves, allowing it to turn water into oxygen and hydrogen. Hydrogen - a clean burning fuel, is often made from natural gas, in a process accompanied by emitting greenhouse gases. At the time of launch , "artificial leaves" were not as effective as expected, according to Nocera, because at the time, the world was not yet ready for hydrogen fuel.

"If I give you your renewable hydrogen, the only thing you can do with it is to inflate a balloon , " he said. "There is no infrastructure for hydrogen." However, if hydrogen from leaves can combine with CO ₂ to produce alcohol fuel, that fuel can be used the same way you use diesel at present. That's what Professor Nocera and his colleagues are aiming for.

Last year, Nocera announced he would continue to work with bacteria in an effort to generate fuel, and other scientists once thought it would be difficult for that to work. At that time, Nocera said his method could achieve about 5 times higher efficiency than factories. Until last May at the University of Chicago, he announced his bacteria were able to turn sunlight into energy with 10 times more efficiency than conventional plants.