CO2-based biodegradable plastic and its precursor production using photo-biocatalytic processes

Abstract

Biodegradable plastics are materials that can be decomposed by the action of microbes into water, CO₂, and biomass. Biodegradable plastics are attractive materials to solve serious environmental pollution due to plastic disposal. Some biodegradable plastics are produced entirely from petroleum-based precursors. A new biodegradable plastics and their precursors production from CO₂ and persistency organic or bio-based compound using a visible-light driven redox with biocatalytic processes is one of the effective resolutions for environmental issues both plastic pollution and global warming. In this review article, recent research on the In this review article, recent research on the visible-light driven production of CO₂-based biodegradable plastics and their precursors with the system of light-driven redox and biocatalytic processes is introduced.. As a first example, an overview of research into the production of biodegradable plastics, poly(hydoxybutyrate) (PHB) and their precursors such as acetate, shikimic acid, acetoin and so on from CO₂ using semiconductor photocatalyst-based photoredox system with microbial cell as a biocatalytic process is provided. As a second example, an overview of studies on the production of biodegradable plastic precursors, 3-hydroxybutyrate, L-malate and fumarate from CO₂ and small organic molecules using organic dye-based photoredox sysem with an electron donor, an electron mediator and enzyme-based biocatalytic processes is provided.