GREEN CHEMISTRY A 2025 TREND

What is Artificial Photosynthesis? Artificial photosynthesis is a man-made chemical process that mimics natural photosynthesis,the way plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. But instead of producing food, artificial photosynthesis produces renewable fuels like hydrogen or methanol. This innovation aims to solve two major global challenges: 1.The energy crisis 2.Climate change caused by CO₂ emissions How does it even works? artificial photosynthesis involves: 1. Capturing sunlight using materials like semiconductors (similar to solar panels). 2. Using this solar energy to split water (H₂O) into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂). 3. Or using the energy to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) into hydrocarbons like methanol, ethanol, or even synthetic gasoline. 💡 Why Is It So Interesting? 1. Clean Fuel from Sunlight It produces hydrogen, a zero-carbon fuel, or methanol, which can be used in engines. 2. Carbon Capture It removes CO₂ from the atmosphere and converts...

🧬 What Happened? Scientists from the University of Edinburgh developed a bioengineered strain of E. coli bacteria capable of transforming PET plastic waste like used water bottles into the widely used painkiller paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen). This was achieved through synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, marking a powerful leap forward in both plastic recycling and pharmaceutical production. How Does It Work? The process involves several key steps: 1. Breaking Down PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): PET, commonly found in plastic bottles, is made of terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol. Researchers used enzymes to break down PET waste into its monomers, primarily terephthalic acid (TPA). These monomers serve as carbon feedstocks for bacterial growth. 2. Genetically Modified E. coli: The team genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to process TPA and convert it into 4-aminophenol, a key intermediate in paracetamol production. They introduced synthetic metaboli...