Phys.org September 23, 2021
Starches, a storage form of carbohydrates, are a major source of calories in the human diet and a primary feedstock for bioindustry. Researchers in China designed an artificial route consisting of 11 core reactions to convert CO2 into starch with an efficiency 8.5-fold higher than starch biosynthesis in maize. They integrated chemical and biological catalytic modules to utilize high-density energy and high-concentration CO2. If the overall cost of the process can be reduced to a level economically comparable with agricultural planting in the future, it is expected to save more than 90% of cultivated land and freshwater resources. It would also help to avoid the negative environmental impact of using pesticides and fertilizers, improve human food security, facilitate a carbon-neutral bioeconomy, and eventually promote the formation of a sustainable bio-based society…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Starch synthesis via artificial starch anabolic pathway (ASAP) from carbon dioxide. Credit: TIBCAS