Researchers at The University of Manchester have shown that microbial communities from terrestrial hot springs could be harnessed to convert industrial CO 2 emissions into useful products, offering new routes towards a circular, low-carbon economy.
Industrial processes such as steel and cement production generate large volumes of CO 2 -rich waste gases. While these emissions are a major environmental challenge, the new study – published in Environmental Microbiome – suggests they could represent an untapped resource.
The team found that microbiomes inhabiting terrestrial hot springs are naturally adapted to conditions that closely resemble industrial waste streams: high temperatures, elevated concentrations of CO 2 , and chemically challenging environments.
Hot spring microorganisms are highly efficient at transforming inorganic carbon, including CO 2 , into organic compounds such as biomass and other valuable products. The researchers suggest that these communities could form the foundation of new biotechnologies designed to operate under industrial conditions without the need for light or energy-intensive cooling processes.