Lessons from natural photosynthesis: conversion of CO2 to raw materials for plastic!

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have successfully synthesized fumarate (fumaric acid), a raw material for unsaturated polyester resin, by combining carbon dioxide (CO2) with pyruvate (derived from biomass), using two biocatalysts: malate dehydrogenase and fumarase. Fumarate is currently used to make biodegradable plastic like polybutylene succinate from petroleum. However, this research has enabled the synthesis of fumarate without petroleum, consuming only CO2 and biomass-derived pyruvate.

Solar spectral conversion for improving the photosynthetic activity in algae reactors

Bioplastics for a circular economy

Frontiers Emerging technologies for advancing microalgal photosynthesis and metabolism toward sustainable production

Multifunctional Catalyst Combination for the Direct Conversion of CO2 to Propane

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Chem-bio interface design for rapid conversion of CO2 to bioplastics in an integrated system - ScienceDirect

Closing the Carbon Loop in the Circular Plastics Economy - Schirmeister - 2022 - Macromolecular Rapid Communications - Wiley Online Library

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