Capturing carbon with enzymes

A promising technique by CO2 Solution

The research company CO2 Solution of Quebec City, Canada, has developed a new way to capture carbon dioxide from smokestacks. It has genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to produce an enzyme that converts carbon dioxide into bicarbonate, a raw material that can be sequestered underground or used to produce substances such as baking soda, chalk, or limestone. The main advantage of a bioreactor containing this enzyme, compared to other systems, is that it does not require separation of the carbon dioxide. It can be used for any gaseous effluent containing carbon dioxide.

CO2 Solution has already tested its process on a small municipal incinerator and on an aluminium smelter. It is now working with power plant equipment manufacturer Babcock and Wilcox on ways to adapt the technology to power stations. The biggest challenge will be to produce enough of the enzymes to process the enormous quantity of carbon dioxide that is emitted from coal- or gas-fired power plants.