Potential to synthesize drugs and artificial food from CO2

Schematic diagram of glucose synthesis from CO2 and water.

A research team from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Shenzhen Advanced Institute of Technology and the University of Science and Technology of China have created a hybrid electric biosystem that combines electrolysis carbon dioxide (CO2) in space with yeast fermentation, which efficiently converts carbon dioxide into glucose with high yield.

They first converted carbon dioxide into pure acetic acid through an electrolytic reactor with a nanostructured copper catalyst, then used genetically engineered yeast to produce glucose in vitro from acetic acid. . This method has also been shown to be capable of yielding other products such as fatty acids.

"This process can be understood as converting carbon dioxide into vinegar and raising yeast to produce glucose and fatty acids," said study lead author Zeng Jie from the University of Science and Technology of China.

The conversion of CO2 to glucose and fatty acids is accomplished through an electrochemical process combined with biological fermentation.

Converting carbon dioxide into value-added products demonstrates the incredible capacity of a renewable electricity manufacturing industry, opening opportunities to address environmental and achieve a circular economy.

"With an electrolytic reactor and different microorganisms, we can produce artificial starches, pigments or drugs in the future," said co-author Xia Chuan from the University of Electrical Science and Technology. China added.

The study was published in the journal Nature-Catallysis last week.