International. Scientists at the University of Surrey create an innovative paint that contains oxygen-producing bacteria capable of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2). The researchers suggest that this paint could be used in extreme environments, such as space stations.
Biocoatings are a type of water-based paint that encloses live bacteria in layers. In addition to capturing carbon, they can also serve as bioreactors or biosensors.
Surrey's creation, called "Green Living Paint," features Cuban Chroococcidiopsis, a bacterium that undergoes photosynthesis to produce oxygen while capturing CO2. This species is usually found in the desert and requires little water to survive. Classified as an extremophile, it can survive these extreme conditions.
"With the increase in greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, in the atmosphere and concerns about water scarcity due to rising global temperatures, we need innovative, environmentally friendly and sustainable materials," said Dr Suzie Hingley-Wilson, Senior Lecturer in Bacteriology at the University of Surrey.
"Mechanically robust, ready-to-use biocoatings, or 'living paints', could help address these challenges by reducing water consumption in typically bioreactor-intensive processes," Dr. Hingley-Wilson added.
Contributing to the sustainable future
To investigate the suitability of Chroococcidiopsis cubana as a biocoating, the researchers immobilized the bacterium in a mechanically robust biocoating made of polymer particles in water, which was completely dried before being rehydrated. They observed that bacteria within the biocoating produced up to 0.4 g of oxygen per gram of biomass per day and captured CO2. Continuous oxygen measurements showed no signs of decreased activity for one month.
Conversely, the researchers conducted similar experiments with the bacterium Synechocystis sp., another cyanobacterium commonly found in freshwater. Unlike its desert counterpart, it was unable to produce oxygen within the biolining.
"Our research grant from the Leverhulme Trust enabled this interdisciplinary project. We envision our biocoatings contributing to a more sustainable future, aligning perfectly with the vision of our Institute for Sustainability, where both Dr Hingley-Wilson and I are fellows," said Professor Joseph Keddie, Professor of Soft Matter Physics in the School of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Surrey.
"Photosynthetic Chroococcidiopsis have an extraordinary ability to survive in extreme environments, such as droughts and after high levels of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This makes them potential candidates for Mars colonization," said Simone Krings, lead author and former postgraduate researcher in the Department of Microbial Sciences at the University of Surrey.
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