Breakthrough: artificial photosynthesis

Tuesday Mar 16, 2010 · 11:45 AM PDT

2010/03/16 · 11:45

Plants take CO2 and water to create sugars, using sunlight as the energy source, in a process called photosynthesis. Scientists have been trying to replicate photosynthesis in the lab for a long time.

It looks like they've finally succeeded – and the artificial process is a lot more efficient than the natural one. This may have major implications for energy and food production, as well as carbon capture and storage, a way to mitigate climate change.

Abstract in Nano Letters

Article from the University of Cincinnati

Scientists at the University of Cincinnati succeeded by using a unique foam substrate as a scaffold, coated with enzymes from bacteria, plants, frogs, and fungi. The foam is called Ranaspumin-2, and it is made by a Central American denizen called the Tungara frog to protect its tadpoles.

The foam allows a large surface area for the enzymes to work. The process has two advantages over natural photosynthesis:

It turns nearly all (96%) of captured sunlight into sugars, which is much higher than natural photosynthesis.

Unlike natural photosynthesis, it works well in atmospheres very high in CO2. So the process could potentially be used as a flue-gas scrubber, for example, removing CO2 from the air at industrial sources.

Assistant Professor David Wendell explains:

“You can convert the sugars into many different things, including ethanol and other biofuels,” Wendell explains. “And it removes carbon dioxide from the air, but maintains current arable land for food production.”

Update: Well, I post this tiny little diary, go to fix my sump pump, and when I get back I'm top of the rec list. Shucks folks, I'm speechless. Thanks!

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