Can engineered microbes produce isoprene for synthetic rubber?

The article discusses the potential of engineered microbes to produce isoprene, a key precursor to synthetic rubber, from industrial CO₂ emissions. Currently, isoprene is mainly derived from petroleum or natural gas, with over 800,000 tons produced annually, primarily for synthetic rubber used in tires, adhesives, and elastomers. Given the rising global demand for isoprene—valued at $4–5 billion—and the significant CO₂ emissions from industries like cement and coal-fired power plants, converting waste CO₂ into isoprene presents a promising circular economy approach. Microbial or plant-derived isoprene is chemically identical to petro-isoprene, allowing it to be a direct substitute without altering existing manufacturing processes. This bioconversion could reduce reliance on fossil fuels while utilizing abundant industrial CO₂ emissions as feedstock. The article highlights that industrial CO₂ emissions, such as the 68 million tonnes annually from US cement plants and billions of tonnes from coal power plants, offer a concentrated and plentiful