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Carbon sequestration pathways in microorganisms: Advances, strategies, and applications
Shupeng Ruan1,2, Yuchen Jiang1,2, Aoxue Wang1,2
1Guangdong Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Enzyme Engineering, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Engineering Microbiology
|April 15, 2026
Summary
Microbial carbon fixation offers a sustainable solution to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels caused by industrial activities. This review explores microbial CO₂ pathways and enhancement strategies for producing valuable chemicals.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Biochemical Engineering
- Climate Change Mitigation
Background:
- Industrial activities have significantly increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels, driving global warming.
- Conventional CO₂ fixation methods often lead to secondary environmental pollution.
- Microbial CO₂ fixation presents a promising, eco-friendly alternative for carbon reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review natural and artificial microbial CO₂ fixation pathways.
- To explore strategies for enhancing the efficiency of microbial carbon fixation.
- To discuss the conversion of CO₂ into valuable metabolic products and chemicals.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of natural microbial CO₂ fixation pathways.
- Analysis of recent advancements in artificial CO₂ fixation technologies.
- Examination of strategies to improve microbial carbon fixation efficiency.
Main Results:
- Overview of diverse microbial pathways capable of fixing CO₂.
- Identification of current challenges and opportunities in artificial CO₂ fixation.
- Discussion on methods to enhance microbial carbon fixation rates and yields.
Conclusions:
- Microbial CO₂ fixation is a viable strategy for mitigating climate change and reducing atmospheric CO₂.
- Enhancing microbial carbon fixation efficiency is key to its widespread application.
- This review provides a foundation for utilizing CO₂ as a feedstock for producing high-value chemicals.
Keywords:
Artificial carbon sequestration pathwaysCO2 fixationMetabolic pathwayNatural carbon fixation pathwaysValue-added productsMore Related Videos
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