Urine to Value: New Recycling Method
- Researchers have developed a yeast-based system capable of converting human urine into hydroxyapatite (HAp), a biomaterial widely used in bone and dental applications.
- the team,including scientists from the University of California,Irvine,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,published their findings in Nature Communications.
- David Kisailus,a professor of materials science and engineering at UC Irvine,said the process simultaneously removes urine from wastewater,reducing pollution,and produces a commercially viable material.The engineered yeast, dubbed "osteoyeast,"...
Transforming waste into value: Scientists utilize engineered yeast to upcycle human urine into hydroxyapatite (HAp), a crucial biomaterial. This revolutionary process not only tackles wastewater management but also births a valuable resource, with HAp’s market expected to surge. the research, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates the potential of this innovative recycling method. The “osteoyeast,” developed by researchers from UC Irvine and others, breaks down urea, triggering HAp formation. This scalable, cost-effective method promises accessible solutions, particularly for developing economies. The material, used for bone and dental repair, has a multi-billion dollar market projected to see notable growth as alternatives to plastics become essential in manufacturing. News Directory 3 is proud to share this engaging development. Discover what’s next in this exciting area of research.
Yeast Transforms Urine into Bone-Repair Material, Offering wastewater Solution
Updated June 18, 2025
Researchers have developed a yeast-based system capable of converting human urine into hydroxyapatite (HAp), a biomaterial widely used in bone and dental applications. This innovative approach not only addresses wastewater management but also creates a valuable resource.
the team,including scientists from the University of California,Irvine,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,published their findings in Nature Communications. Their analysis highlights the potential of transforming urine into HAp, a calcium phosphate mineral with a projected market value exceeding $3.5 billion by 2030.
David Kisailus,a professor of materials science and engineering at UC Irvine,said the process simultaneously removes urine from wastewater,reducing pollution,and produces a commercially viable material.The engineered yeast, dubbed “osteoyeast,” breaks down urea, raising the pH and triggering the accumulation of calcium and phosphate, which then crystallize into HAp.
The researchers reported that their method can produce up to 1 gram of HAp per liter of urine in less than a day. Kisailus emphasized the cost-effectiveness and scalability of the yeast-based system, drawing a comparison to beer fermentation. He noted that the process requires minimal infrastructure,making it accessible to developing economies.
hap composites offer mechanical strength and durability. Economical, large-scale production of synthetic hydroxyapatite from urine could provide a renewable option to plastics and other building materials.
Kisailus is collaborating with Professor Yasuo Yoshikuni from Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory to explore the production of other materials for energy applications using this yeast platform.Thay are also developing strategies to combine the yeast platform with 3D printing techniques to create multifunctional materials.
The research received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the air force Office of Scientific Research.
What’s next
Future research will focus on scaling up the production of hydroxyapatite and exploring its potential in various biomedical and engineering applications. The team also aims to optimize the yeast platform for the production of other valuable materials from waste streams.