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[Newsletter No.38] Native Microorganism Unlocks Carbon Utilization Potential
CBD-CHM Newsletter Vol. 38
Native Microorganism Unlocks Carbon Utilization Potential
The National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE), announced that it has successfully identified and secured a native microorganism as a bio-based resource capable of efficiently converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into acetate1)
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Since 2022, the NIBR has been collaborating with Professor Cho Byung-kwan of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Professor Kim Dong-myung of Chungnam National University, and Professor Jin Sang-rak of Yeungnam University to enhance the functional capacity of native microorganisms for converting carbon dioxide into valuable compounds.
The team confirmed that a native microorganism (Sporomusa sphaeroides), isolated in 2022 from the rumen of cattle in Korea, can convert carbon dioxide into acetate, a key precursor used in the production of ethanol and a wide range of biological and chemical materials.
By applying adaptive laboratory evolution2) to this microorganism, the researchers significantly improved its conversion efficiency. Results showed that the evolved strain produced 2.34 g/L/h of acetate in a 1 L culture, representing an approximately 18-fold increase compared to the wild-type strain.
This performance is also about three times higher than that of Acetobacterium woodiis (0.77 g/L/h), currently reported as the most efficient carbon dioxide-converting microorganism worldwide.
The study is significant in that it demonstrates the potential to move beyond conventional carbon capture and storage approaches toward biological carbon capture and utilization technologies that convert carbon dioxide into valuable resources.
The research findings are expected to be submitted this month to the international journal Metabolic Engineering.
The President of NIBR stated, "This study confirms the potential of native microorganisms in Korea to convert carbon dioxide into high-value resources. We will continue to expand research on bio-based carbon utilization technologies."
1)
A substance derived from acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, used as a key raw material in various industries, including the production of synthetic fibers
2)
A method in which microorganisms are cultured under controlled conditions over time to induce natural changes, allowing the selection of strains with desirable characteristics
