Yeast and Electricity Turn CO₂ into Itaconic Acid for Biodegradable Plastics

Researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and BOKU University in Vienna have developed a process that combines electrochemistry and yeast fermentation to convert carbon dioxide into itaconic acid, a key building block for biodegradable plastics and other sustainable materials. The method captures CO₂ and feeds it to yeast, which produces the acid—offering a potential route to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while manufacturing valuable chemicals. Itaconic acid is already used in products like coatings, adhesives, and synthetic resins, but this approach could make production carbon-negative. The team says the technique could be adapted with different microorganisms to create a wider range of bio-based chemicals, supporting a circular carbon economy. This breakthrough highlights how industrial CO₂ waste might become a resource rather than a pollutant.