A Microbe that Turns CO2 into Minerals

(EPFL, July 09, 2025)

Bacillus megaterium can turn CO2 in gas form into solid calcium carbonate, offering a new way to make building materials from CO2. This discovery by researchers Dr. Pamela Principi and Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Terzis from EPFL’s Soil Mechanics Laboratory, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, and Medusoil, demonstrated a new clean, innovative carbon capture method. It converts CO2 directly into a solid mineral without harmful byproducts, which presents a new sustainable path for reducing greenhouse gases and fighting climate change. Using C13-labelled urea, the team traced the carbon in the mineral, accurately measuring its microbial pathways. This blend of microbiology, geochemistry, and materials science revealed how CO2 can turn into mineral form. This advancement could revolutionize construction and materials manufacturing by incorporating carbon capture directly into building materials, demonstrating a practical use of biology for climate action and suggesting ways to improve infrastructure durability with new materials.