Algae-assisted Carbon capture

IIT Jodhpur’s innovative technology uses algae-assisted fuel cells to capture carbon dioxide, treat wastewater and generate power.

It is an indirect method for converting CO2 into carbonates and then use it for algal growth.

Aim – To generates power, algae biomass and treats water by utilising algae-assisted MFC for flue gas carbon capture.

Flue gas the gas produced from the flue or chimneys of thermal power stations and other industrial plants

Microbial fuel cells (MFC)

A bio-electrochemical device that generates electricity by harnessing the metabolic activity of microorganisms.
When microorganisms break down organic matter as in wastewater into simpler molecules, electrons are released in the process.
If these electrons are made to flow through an external circuit, you get electric current.

Working – CO2 from the flue gas is absorbed by the wastewater supplemented with sodium bicarbonate and generates flue-gas-derived bicarbonates (FGDBs).

FGDB helps in growth of algae Chlorella vulgaris which is thermo-tolerant and can grow in wastewater.
Algae-assisted MFC is then used to generate electricity.

Significance – This indirect biochemical route of CO2 fixation is advantageous since more inorganic carbon can stay in the water.

- 1 tonne of algae captures 180 tonnes of flue gas CO2.
- For a cubic meter of wastewater and FGDB in MFC, they got energy of 0.0066 kWhr.

This is the 1^st time that the integration of algae MFC with flue gas carbon capture has been attempted anywhere.

Limitations – A tonne per day of CO2 capture requires 2 sq km algae culture area (aerial) in vertically aligned pipes.

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