Atmospheric CO2 capture by algae: Negative carbon dioxide emission path

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Sep:215:371-379. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.060. Epub 2016 Mar 14.

Abstract

Carbon dioxide is one of the most important greenhouse gas, which concentration increase in the atmosphere is associated to climate change and global warming. Besides CO2 capture in large emission point sources, the capture of this pollutant from atmosphere may be required due to significant contribution of diffuse sources. The technologies that remove CO2 from atmosphere (creating a negative balance of CO2) are called negative emission technologies. Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage may play an important role for CO2 mitigation. It represents the combination of bioenergy production and carbon capture and storage, keeping carbon dioxide in geological reservoirs. Algae have a high potential as the source of biomass, as they present high photosynthetic efficiencies and high biomass yields. Their biomass has a wide range of applications, which can improve the economic viability of the process. Thus, this paper aims to assess the atmospheric CO2 capture by algal cultures.

Keywords: Atmospheric CO(2) capture; Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage; Microalgae; Negative emission technologies; Ocean Macroalgal Afforestation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atmosphere*
  • Biofuels
  • Biomass
  • Bioreactors / microbiology
  • Carbon / metabolism
  • Carbon Dioxide / analysis
  • Carbon Dioxide / chemistry
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism*
  • Carbon Sequestration*
  • Climate Change*
  • Geology
  • Humans
  • Plants
  • Seaweed / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Carbon