Harnessing Sunlight to Convert Wastewater into Valuable Chemicals

Researchers have developed a method to convert wastewater contaminants into valuable chemicals using sunlight. By utilizing organic carbon, heavy metals, and sulfate compounds present in wastewater, semiconductor biohybrids can be constructed and converted into valuable chemicals. The study used a fast-growing marine bacterium, Vibrio natriegens, which was engineered to produce hydrogen sulfide and facilitate the production of CdS nanoparticles. These nanoparticles enabled the bacteria to utilize light and significantly enhance the production of 2,3-butanediol (BDO), a valuable commodity chemical. The process demonstrated scalability and achieved solar-driven BDO production on a substantial scale using actual wastewater, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to chemical manufacturing.