[An experimental study for fixation of CO2 in stack gases using microalgae cultivation]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology

Context:

• Industrial stack gases contain significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas.
• Microalgae cultivation is a promising approach for biological carbon capture.
• Identifying robust microalgal strains capable of thriving in industrial flue gas conditions is crucial.

Purpose:

• To isolate and identify a microalgal strain capable of efficient growth using simulated stack gases.
• To determine the optimal conditions for microalgal growth and carbon dioxide utilization.
• To evaluate the feasibility of using microalgae for greenhouse gas fixation.

Summary:

• A microalgal strain, identified as ZY-1 and belonging to the Chlorella genus, was isolated from soil-water samples using enriched stack gases (15% CO2, 2% O2).
• The ZY-1 strain exhibited optimal growth within a CO2 concentration range of 10-15%, with maximum growth at 10% CO2.
• Stable growth was observed under various conditions: air flow rate (0.25-0.75 L.min-1), temperature (25-30°C), and pH (4-6).
• The optimal cultivation conditions for ZY-1 were determined to be 10% CO2, 25°C, and pH 5.0, achieving a CO2 utilization efficiency of 0.397%.

Impact:

• The study demonstrates the potential of the ZY-1 strain for effective carbon dioxide fixation from industrial emissions.
• This research provides a viable biological solution for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions using microalgae.
• The findings support the development of biotechnological approaches for environmental remediation and sustainable industrial practices.