Chinese scientists have developed a groundbreaking solution for industrial wastewater treatment using synthetic biology, potentially revolutionizing environmental cleanup efforts. A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University engineered a bacteria strain capable of degrading five major pollutants simultaneously – a world-first achievement published in Nature this week.
The innovation addresses a critical challenge: High-salinity wastewater from chemical plants and energy facilities contains complex mixtures of organic compounds, heavy metals, and microplastics that resist conventional treatment methods. While natural microbes can break down individual pollutants, their limited efficiency against combined contaminants has long hindered progress.
Using advanced genetic engineering, researchers created modular metabolic pathways within a single bacterium. This 'super-strain' demonstrated 60%+ removal efficiency for biphenyl, phenol, naphthalene, dibenzofuran, and toluene within 48 hours in lab tests. It completely degraded biphenyl and showed 90% effectiveness against stubborn compounds like toluene.
"This platform could transform environmental remediation," said Dr. Dai Junbiao, the study's corresponding author. Potential applications range from oil-spill cleanup to microplastic reduction, offering cost-effective solutions for industries seeking sustainable practices.
The breakthrough aligns with growing global demand for eco-friendly wastewater treatments as nations implement stricter pollution controls. For investors, this development signals opportunities in China's expanding environmental technology sector, while researchers hail it as a milestone in applied synthetic biology.
