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thedailybeast OP t1_je1ssv4 wrote

New research from chemical engineers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology may result in us adding another tool to our decarbonization arsenal: a microscopic bacterium named Cupriavidus necator that can turn CO2 gas into a biodegradable plastic.

Their work, published on March 27 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that with the right setup and ingredients, C. necator can continuously produce a bioplastic from CO2 in the air. If the method is able to be scaled up, such a system could be a two-in-one solution, converting excess CO2 into a biodegradable plastic that obviates the need for energy-inefficiant plastic production.

Do you think it's a feasible way to help save the planet?

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grogudid911 t1_je1z10v wrote

Only if they're able to make it profitable and scale up (while still remaining clean). I don't like being a pessimist, but I'm not holding my breath.

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MadDocsDuck t1_je47weo wrote

Do you know what the volumetric consumption rate is (i.e. CO2/Liter of culture/h)? That is really the decissive factor in such endeavours. If I remember correctly, past studies haven't been able to surpass the capture rate of a regular tree. That is still worth investigating because you can get better end products from the capture but you basically compete against planting trees and turning them into something else through sugar fermentation.

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