Soil bacteria and minerals can form a natural 'battery' that breaks down antibiotics in the dark

Researchers have unveiled a surprising new way that soil microbes can use sunlight energy—even after the lights go out.

A team from Kunming University of Science and Technology and the University of Massachusetts Amherst has developed a "bio-photovoltage soil-microbe battery" that can capture, store, and release solar energy to power the breakdown of antibiotic pollutants in the dark.

The study, published in Environmental and Biogeochemical Processes, shows that common soil bacteria known as Bacillus megaterium can partner with iron minerals to form a living biofilm that behaves like a rechargeable geochemical capacitor.

When exposed to light, the iron-bacteria film absorbs photons and stores the resulting electrons. Later, in the absence of light, it releases these stored charges to trigger chemical reactions that degrade antibiotics such as tetracycline and chloramphenicol.

"Our findings reveal that soil microorganisms and minerals can together function like tiny natural batteries," said co-corresponding author Professor Bo Pan of Kunming University of Science and Technology. "This system can capture sunlight during the day and use that energy at night to remove pollutants."

Zdroj obrázku: Shunling Li, Ye Chen, Min Wu, Peng Zhang, Peng Cui, Wenyan Duan, Bo Pan, & Baoshan Xing.