Study of Microalgae Biofixation with Bacteria Carbonic Anhydrase for Carbon Capture and Utilization

Shui-Shing Chan, Kwan-Shing Chan, Shu-Kei Leung, Wai-Yu Vivian Lam, Ho-Pan Kwok, Tze-Yee Jasmine Yau, Sum-Yi Sammie Wong and Cho-Yin Chan ()
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Shui-Shing Chan: Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Hong Kong 999077, China
Kwan-Shing Chan: Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Hong Kong 999077, China
Shu-Kei Leung: Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Hong Kong 999077, China
Wai-Yu Vivian Lam: Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Hong Kong 999077, China
Ho-Pan Kwok: Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Hong Kong 999077, China
Tze-Yee Jasmine Yau: Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Hong Kong 999077, China
Sum-Yi Sammie Wong: Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Hong Kong 999077, China
Cho-Yin Chan: Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Hong Kong 999077, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: Climate change has been significantly affecting human activities due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. Biofixation of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) has been investigated to reduce the atmospheric CO 2 level and slow the rapid increase in the global temperature. Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) can be performed by either physio-chemical or biological methods. The latter takes place in ambient temperature and mild conditions, such that there is no need for high pressure and high energy consumption nor hazardous chemicals. Biofixation by microalgae has been utilized to capture CO 2 and the microalgae biomass collected after the process can be further utilized in renewable biofuel generation. On the other hand, microbial enzymes, such as carbonic anhydrase (CA), have been investigated to speed up the whole biofixation process by increasing the conversion rate of CO 2 into bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ) in a culture medium and the latter can be readily used by microalgae to increase CO 2 removal. In this study, in the presence of 20% CO 2 ( v / v ) gas in air and 5 mL CA enzyme extract (0.5 mg mL −1 protein), we can significantly increase the biofixation rate using marine green microalgae, Tetraselmis sp. Results showed that the biofixation rate can be increased from 0.64 g L −1 day −1 (no CA and at 0.04% CO 2 ) to 4.26 g L −1 day −1 . The effects of different experimental conditions such as pH, nutrient levels and working CO 2 concentration levels on Tetraselmis sp. growth and CO 2 biofixation (CO 2 removal) rate have been investigated. This study demonstrates a new alternative approach for effective carbon capture and utilization (CCU) using microalgae which can be applied to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.

Keywords: microalgal biofixation; carbonic anhydrase (CA); carbon capture and utilization; Tetraselmis sp. carbon neutrality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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