Bio-integrated carbon capture and utilization: at the interface between capture chemistry and archaeal CO₂ reduction

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Microbiology

Background:

• Traditional carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies face challenges with high energy penalties and thermal degradation.
• Current CCU methods require energy-intensive desorption processes to release captured carbon dioxide (CO2).

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the concept of Bio-Integrated Carbon Capture and Utilization (BICCU) as an innovative CCU strategy.
• To present BICCU as a method that integrates CO2 capture with microbial conversion, bypassing energy-intensive desorption steps.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing methanogens for the direct conversion of captured CO2.
• Employing the methanogenic CO2-reduction pathway for CO2 valorization.
• Integrating CO2 capture agents with microbial conversion processes.

Main Results:

• BICCU replaces high-energy desorption with microbial conversion of CO2.
• The process leverages green hydrogen to facilitate the conversion of CO2 into non-fossil methane.
• This approach mitigates the energy penalties and thermal degradation issues inherent in conventional CCU.

Conclusions:

• Bio-Integrated Carbon Capture and Utilization (BICCU) presents a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative for CO2 valorization.
• The BICCU concept demonstrates the potential of microbial processes to enhance CCU technologies.
• This approach offers a pathway to generate valuable products like methane from captured CO2, contributing to a circular carbon economy.