Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilization using Biological Systems: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Carbon dioxide capture and utilization (CCU), a concept of turning a greenhouse gas into a useful feedstock, is gaining much attention in recent years. Increasing CO2 emission into the atmosphere, from fossil fuel combustion and other anthropogenic activities, has forced us to source for more sustainable and economical routes of chemical syntheses. Instead of developing new chemical catalysts and CO2 -based chemistry, we should perhaps learn from Nature. Over the past billions of years, Nature has evolved sophisticated mechanisms for carbon concentration, fixation and utilization, manifested through autotrophy. Many organisms, such as photosynthetic and chemolithoautotrophic organisms, display excellent ability in assimilating CO2 and converting it into complex molecules. Through the use of enabling technologies (e.g., genetic engineering and protein engineering), the range of CO2 -derived bio-based products is expanding at a rapid pace. Chemicals that can be synthesized biologically include bio-plastics, bio-alcohols, bio- diesel, to name a few. Continued research on multiple fronts and closed collaboration between scientists and engineers are required to further develop biological systems into viable chemical production platforms