Self-assembled microalgae-photosensitized biohybrids enabling solar-driven directed phosphate conversion form...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology
• Photocatalysis

Background:

• Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) pose environmental risks.
• Semi-artificial photosynthetic systems offer a promising route for OPs degradation.
• Integrating photocatalysts with microbial cells enhances degradation efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel biohybrid system for light-driven malathion conversion.
• To elucidate the mechanisms underlying malathion degradation by the biohybrid system.
• To assess the system's efficiency, stability, and potential for resource recovery.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a biohybrid system using Fe@C and Chlorella sorokiniana (C. sorokiniana) leveraging electrostatic interactions.
• Evaluation of light-driven malathion removal efficiency.
• Assessment of operational stability and recyclability over multiple cycles.
• Mechanistic studies involving Photosystem II (PSII) activity, ATP and NADPH levels, and enzyme activation.

Main Results:

• The C. sorokiniana-Fe@C biohybrid system achieved 93.6% malathion removal under illumination.
• The biohybrid system demonstrated significantly higher removal efficiency (9.2x Fe@C, 2.1x C. sorokiniana).
• High operational stability with 90.0 ± 0.5% removal over seven cycles.
• Mechanistic insights revealed enhanced PSII activity, ATP/NADPH synthesis, and carboxylesterase activation for malathion hydrolysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed biohybrid system offers an efficient and stable platform for light-driven OPs degradation.
• The system facilitates simultaneous pollutant remediation and resource utilization (phosphorus recovery).
• This study presents an innovative paradigm for sustainable environmental management and circular economy strategies.