Bio-integrated carbon capture and utilization: at the interface between capture chemistry and archaeal CO2 reduction

Abstract

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) covers an array of technologies for valorizing carbon dioxide (CO2). To date, most mature CCU technology conducted with capture agents operates against the CO2 gradient to desorb CO2 from capture agents, exhibiting high energy penalties and thermal degradation due to the requirement for thermal swings. This Perspective presents a concept of Bio-Integrated Carbon Capture and Utilization (BICCU), which utilizes methanogens for integrated release and conversion of CO2 captured with capture agents. BICCU hereby substitutes the energy-intensive desorption with microbial conversion of captured CO2 by the methanogenic CO2-reduction pathway, utilizing green hydrogen to generate non-fossil methane.