An Evidence of Carbonic Anhydrase Activity in Native Microalgae for CO₂ Capture Application

A promising alternative for effective carbon capture has been found in microalgae because of their high photosynthetic capacity and quick growth. The carbon concentration mechanism of many microalgae is heavily reliant on the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA), which catalyze the production of bicarbonate from carbon dioxide. In this study, microalgal samples were collected, characterized, and cultured under controlled conditions for their optimal growth of cultures I-IX. The CA activity was investigated using a standard method; the Wilbur-Anderson assay was used to calculate CA activity in microalgal cultures. The comparative study was then used to measure the activity rate of the collected microalgae. Among the tested, culture I, VI, and IX showed a high enzyme activity rate of 4.15, 4.0, and 4.2 µg·mL^-1, respectively. To determine the rate of carbon dioxide hydration, the method involved tracking the pH change in a reaction mixture. In addition, genetic analysis facilitates the identification of key genes involved in CA activity and other metabolic processes, which enhance the knowledge of microalgal physiology, and enables genetic engineering efforts in the future studies. Overall, this investigation emphasizes the significance of studying unknown microalgal culture and their potential CA activity for industrial and bio-energy applications.