Researchers combine electricity and yeast to convert carbon dioxide into chemical

Researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, working in collaboration with BOKU University in Vienna, Austria, have demonstrated a process that combines electricity and yeast to turn carbon dioxide into itaconic acid. Phys.org Chemistry reported that the hybrid technology integrates electrochemical and microbial steps to capture carbon dioxide from the air and transform it into a chemical building block. [1]

The process uses carbon dioxide as a starting material to make itaconic acid, which serves as a bio-based precursor for manufacturing biodegradable plastics. Phys.org Chemistry reported that the system couples electrochemical carbon capture directly with microbial synthesis, utilizing yeast cells to perform the final chemical conversion. [1]

Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled fungal microorganisms that reproduce primarily through budding or fission, with at least 1,500 species recognized. Baker's yeast, known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is widely used as a model organism in laboratory research because of its rapid growth and simple genetic manipulation. [2][3]

Researchers are developing these technologies to create useful materials from greenhouse gases in order to limit further climate change. Phys.org Chemistry reported that combining direct electrochemical capture with biological fermentation offers a path toward industrial production of sustainable chemicals. [1]