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Cost-effective urine recycling enabled by a synthetic osteoyeast platform for production of hydroxyapatite

Author

Listed:
  • Isaak E. Müller

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Alex Y. W. Lin

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Yusuke Otani

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Xinyi Zhang

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Zong-Yen Wu

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • David Kisailus

    (University of California at)

  • Nigel J. Mouncey

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Jeremy S. Guest

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Behzad Rad

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Peter Ercius

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Yasuo Yoshikuni

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Abstract

Recycling human urine offers a sustainable solution to environmental challenges posed by conventional wastewater treatment. While it is possible to recover nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from urine, the low economic value of these products limits large-scale adoption. Here, we show that engineered yeast can convert urine into hydroxyapatite (HAp), a high-value biomaterial widely used in bone and dental applications. Inspired by the biological mechanisms of bone-forming cells, we develop a synthetic yeast platform osteoyeast, which uses enzymes to break down urea and increase the pH of the surrounding environment. This triggers the yeast vacuoles to accumulate calcium and phosphate as amorphous calcium phosphate, which is then secreted in vesicles and crystallized into HAp. We achieve HAp production at titers exceeding 1 g/L directly from urine. Techno-economic analysis demonstrates that this process offers clear economic and environmental advantages, making it a compelling strategy for high-value resource recovery from human waste.

Suggested Citation

  • Isaak E. Müller & Alex Y. W. Lin & Yusuke Otani & Xinyi Zhang & Zong-Yen Wu & David Kisailus & Nigel J. Mouncey & Jeremy S. Guest & Behzad Rad & Peter Ercius & Yasuo Yoshikuni, 2025. "Cost-effective urine recycling enabled by a synthetic osteoyeast platform for production of hydroxyapatite," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59416-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59416-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John T. Trimmer & Jeremy S. Guest, 2018. "Recirculation of human-derived nutrients from cities to agriculture across six continents," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(8), pages 427-435, August.
    2. Antiope Lotsari & Anand K. Rajasekharan & Mats Halvarsson & Martin Andersson, 2018. "Transformation of amorphous calcium phosphate to bone-like apatite," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Bongjun Yeom & Trisha Sain & Naida Lacevic & Daria Bukharina & Sang-Ho Cha & Anthony M. Waas & Ellen M. Arruda & Nicholas A. Kotov, 2017. "Abiotic tooth enamel," Nature, Nature, vol. 543(7643), pages 95-98, March.
    4. Chelsea Wald, 2022. "The urine revolution: how recycling pee could help to save the world," Nature, Nature, vol. 602(7896), pages 202-206, February.
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