Biological Carbon Capture through Algae

Abstract

Global climate change poses a critical threat, with carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from fossil fuels increasing by 2.7% annually in the last decade. To counter this alarming trend, a promising worldwide strategy involves capturing and storing CO₂, notably through carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives. Photosynthesis, particularly by microalgae, emerges as a sustainable approach for CO₂ removal due to their exceptional carbon-fixing abilities. Cyanobacteria and algae have developed unique photosynthetic carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) that optimize the efficiency of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase (RuBisCO) in capturing carbon dioxide. In this process, carbonic anhydrase (CA), a zinc-containing enzyme, plays a pivotal role within the CCM by facilitating the reversible hydration of CO₂ into bicarbonate and a proton, significantly contributing to CO₂ fixation. The microalgal biomass, post-sequestration, holds potential for producing biofuel, colorants, vitamins, bioactive compounds and livestock fodder.