ABSTRACT
Human activities increase the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), which leads to global climate warming. Microbial CO2 fixation is a promising green approach for carbon neutral. In contrast to autotrophic microorganisms, heterotrophic microorganisms are characterized by fast growth and ease of genetic modification, but the efficiency of CO2 fixation is still limited. In the past decade, synthetic biology-based enhancement of heterotrophic CO2 fixation has drawn wide attention, including the optimization of energy supply, modification of carboxylation pathway, and heterotrophic microorganisms-based indirect CO2 fixation. This review focuses on the research progress in CO2 fixation by heterotrophic microorganisms, which is expected to serve as a reference for peaking CO2 emission and achieving carbon neutral by microbial CO2 fixation.
Subject(s)
Humans , Carbon Cycle , Carbon Dioxide/metabolism , Heterotrophic Processes , Synthetic BiologyABSTRACT
With the transformation and revolution of the global plastics recycling system, recycling and upcycling of mixed plastics waste not only reduces the carbon emissions of plastics during its life cycle, but also addresses its potential ecological and environmental hazards. This article summarizes an international cooperation project, "MIXed plastics biodegradation and UPcycling using microbial communities" (MIX-UP) which was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the European Union (NSFC-EU) in 2019. The consortium of MIX-UP consists of 14 partners from European Union and China. Focusing on the global issue of "plastics pollution", this Sino-European MIX-UP project took the mixed waste of petroleum-based plastics (PP, PE, PUR, PET and PS) and bio-based plastics (PLA and PHA) as starting materials for biotechnological conversion into value-added, sustainable biomaterials. MIX-UP has three subprojects: 1) identification of plastics biodegradation pathway and design & engineering of key degrading elements, 2) construction and functional regulation of microbial consortia/enzyme cocktails with high-efficiency for degradation of plastics mixtures, 3) strategy of design and utilization of plastics degradation products for production of high value materials. Through NSFC-EU complementary and cross-disciplinary cooperation, MIX-UP proposes the engineering of a new-to-nature biological route for upcycling, a low carbon and sustainable bio-treatment that is different from the traditional physico-chemical treatment, which will empower the recycling industry to a new dimension. The implementation of the project will not only help to promote innovation and development in the field of biotechnology in China, but also contribute to the achievement of China's carbon neutral goal.
Subject(s)
Biodegradation, Environmental , Biotechnology , Carbon , European Union , Microbiota , PlasticsABSTRACT
Resumen El tema de la ecología en los últimos años ha sido de gran interés para la población en general, más aún en las empresas para disminuir el impacto ambiental generado, y la práctica odontológica no está exenta, ya que como es de conocimiento, se genera gran cantidad de basura mucha de la cual es infecciosa y altamente contaminante, por lo que la tendencia actual es de generar menos impacto ambiental en todos los aspectos del diario vivir y eso está retomando fuerza. Se abordó el tema de la carbono neutralidad, ya que es un complemento para entender el daño y la huella de carbono que se genera en la actualidad. De igual manera parte del trabajo se basó en la indagación sobre la cantidad de información que poseen los odontólogos acerca del tema de las clínicas dentales ecológicas, asimismo como de los requisitos necesarios para el proyecto, y se enlistaron las principales dificultades que ellos consideraban impedimento para aplicar esta modalidad en su práctica profesional.
Abstract The research intends open a gate between the dental industry and ecofriendly practices, now that the tendency to have less contamination impact in a daily basis routine has risen in the past years. The topic of carbón neutrality has come to the table since it is an important complement to have a better understanding of the damage and carbon foot print that is happening in the present. As well, big part of the study was to investigate if the dentists have had any kind of information regarding ecofriendly dental offices and it requirements, as well to see which one is the biggest difficulties dentists think are pushing them back to apply this modality in their day to day routine.