Bicarbonate produced from carbon capture for algae culture

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Current microalgae cultivation using captured carbon dioxide (CO2) faces challenges including high capture and transport costs, and CO2 loss.
• Algae growth is suboptimal at night, and CO2 cannot be stored for use during daylight hours, further limiting efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel process for microalgae cultivation that utilizes captured CO2 in the form of bicarbonate.
• To address the economic and logistical limitations associated with traditional CO2 capture and delivery methods for algae farming.

Main Methods:

• The proposed process involves capturing CO2 as bicarbonate, which serves as feedstock for algae culture.
• The carbonate regenerated during the algae culture is then reused as an absorbent for capturing additional CO2.
• Aqueous bicarbonate solutions are transported, offering a cost-effective alternative to compressed CO2.

Main Results:

• The bicarbonate process significantly reduces the overall cost of carbon capture by eliminating the need for additional energy for carbonate regeneration.
• Transporting aqueous bicarbonate solutions is more economical than transporting compressed CO2.
• Bicarbonate provides a more efficient method for delivering CO2 to algae culture systems.

Conclusions:

• The developed bicarbonate-based process offers a cost-effective and efficient solution for microalgae cultivation using captured CO2.
• This approach mitigates CO2 loss and improves delivery, potentially revolutionizing the use of algae for carbon capture and biofuel production.