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Design and Construction of an Experimental Setup to Enhance Mineral Weathering through the Activity of Soil Organisms
Published on: November 10, 2023
Mineral CO2 sequestration by environmental biotechnological processes.
Shiva S Salek1, Robbert Kleerebezem, Henk M Jonkers
1Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC Delft, The Netherlands. S.S.ShayeganSalek@tudelft.nl
Trends in Biotechnology
|February 7, 2013
Summary
Mineral carbonation using environmental biotechnology offers a novel method for carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration. This approach utilizes microbial processes to enhance CO2 capture and storage, aiding climate change mitigation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental biotechnology
- Biogeochemical cycles
- Climate change mitigation
Background:
- Mineral carbonation is a key process for carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration.
- Alkaline silicate minerals react with CO2 to store it.
- Environmental biotechnological processes can enhance mineral carbonation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of environmental biotechnological processes for CO2 sequestration using alkaline silicate minerals.
- To explore the application of microbial acid- and alkalinity-producing reactions in CO2 sequestration.
- To quantitatively assess the feasibility of these bio-enhanced mineral carbonation strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing sequential microbial processes: acid-producing (nitrification, anaerobic fermentation) and alkalinity-producing (denitrification, methanogenesis).
- Employing acid-producing reactions to enhance alkaline silicate mineral dissolution.
- Using alkalinity-producing reactions to precipitate calcium carbonate (CaCO3) for CO2 storage.
Main Results:
- Biotechnological processes can effectively enhance the dissolution of alkaline silicates.
- Subsequent microbial alkalinity generation facilitates the precipitation of carbonates.
- Quantitative evaluation indicates significant potential for CO2 sequestration.
Conclusions:
- Environmental biotechnological processes offer a viable pathway for CO2 sequestration via mineral carbonation.
- Optimization of these microbial strategies can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation efforts.
- This bio-enhanced approach presents a promising avenue for sustainable carbon capture and storage.
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