Carbonic anhydrase to boost CO2 sequestration : Improving carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS)

CO2 Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is a fundamental strategy to mitigate climate change, and carbon sequestration, through absorption, can be one of the solutions to achieving this goal. In nature, carbonic anhydrase (CA) catalyzes the CO2 hydration to bicarbonates. Targeting the development of novel biotechnological routes which can compete with traditional CO2 absorption methods, CA utilization has presented a potential to expand as a promising catalyst for CCUS applications. Driven by this feature, the search for novel CAs as biocatalysts and the utilization of enzyme improvement techniques, such as protein engineering and immobilization methods, has resulted in suitable variants able to catalyze CO2 absorption at relevant industrial conditions. Limitations related to enzyme recovery and recyclability are still a concern in the field, affecting cost efficiency. Under different absorption approaches, CA enhances both kinetics and CO2 absorption yields, besides reduced energy consumption. However, efforts directed to process optimization and demonstrative plants are still limited. A recent topic with great potential for development is the CA utilization in accelerated weathering, where industrial residues could be re-purposed towards becoming carbon sequestrating agents. Furthermore, research of new solvents has identified potential candidates for integration with CA in CO2 capture, and through techno-economic assessments, CA can be a path to increase the competitiveness of alternative CO2 absorption systems, offering lower environmental costs. This review provides a favorable scenario combining the enzyme and CO2 capture, with possibilities in reaching an industrial-like stage in the future

Special electronic structures and quantum conduction of B/P co-doping carbon nanotubes under electric field using the first principle

Boron (B)/phosphorus (P) doped single wall carbon nanotubes (B-PSWNTs) are studied by using the First- Principle method based on density function theory (DFT). Mayer bond order, band structure, electrons density and density of states are calculated. It concludes that the B-PSWNTs have special band structure which is quite different from BN nanotubes, and that metallic carbon nanotubes will be converted to semiconductor due to boron/phosphorus co-doping which breaks the symmetrical structure. The bonding forms in B-PSWNTs are investigated in detail. Besides, Mulliken charge population and the quantum conductance are also calculated to study the quantum transport characteristics of B-PSWNT hetero-junction. It is found that the position of p-n junction in this hetero-junction will be changed as the applied electric field increase and it performs the characteristics of diode.Comment: 11 pages, 6 fiugres, 2 table

Conducting linear chains of sulphur inside carbon nanotubes

Despite extensive research for more than 200 years, the experimental isolation of monatomic sulphur chains, which are believed to exhibit a conducting character, has eluded scientists. Here we report the synthesis of a previously unobserved composite material of elemental sulphur, consisting of monatomic chains stabilized in the constraining volume of a carbon nanotube. This one-dimensional phase is confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, these one-dimensional sulphur chains exhibit long domain sizes of up to 160 nm and high thermal stability (∼800 K). Synchrotron X-ray diffraction shows a sharp structural transition of the one-dimensional sulphur occurring at ∼450-650 K. Our observations, and corresponding electronic structure and quantum transport calculations, indicate the conducting character of the one-dimensional sulphur chains under ambient pressure. This is in stark contrast to bulk sulphur that needs ultrahigh pressures exceeding ∼90 GPa to become metallic

Enzyme-accelerated CO2 capture and storage (CCS) using paper and pulp residues as co-sequestrating agents

In the present work, four CaCO3-rich solid residues from the pulp and paper industry (lime mud, green liquor sludge, electrostatic precipitator dust, and lime dregs) were assessed for their potential as co-sequestrating agents in carbon capture. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) was added to promote both CO2 hydration and residue mineral dissolution, offering an enhancement in CO2-capture yield under atmospheric (up to 4-fold) and industrial-gas mimic conditions (up to 2.2-fold). Geological CO2 storage using olivine as a reference material was employed in two stages: one involving mineral dissolution, with leaching of Mg2+ and SiO2 from olivine; and the second involving mineral carbonation, converting Mg2+ and bicarbonate to MgCO3 as a permanent storage form of CO2. The results showed an enhanced carbonation yield up to 6.9%, when CA was added in the prior CO2-capture step. The proposed route underlines the importance of the valorization of industrial residues toward achieving neutral, or even negative emissions in the case of bioenergy-based plants, without the need for energy-intensive compression and long-distance transport of the captured CO2. This is a proof of concept for an integrated strategy in which a biocatalyst is applied as a CO2-capture promoter while CO2 storage can be done near industrial sites with adequate geological characteristics.Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-03-06 (hanlid);Full text license: CC BY</p