A novel microalgae-based ‘liquid tree’: capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and pigments obtaining

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is one of the primary contributors to climate change, necessitating the exploration of sustainable methods for its capture, mainly in urban areas. Microalgae have emerged as an interesting solution due to their high photosynthetic efficiency and ability to grow in different environments, including non-arable lands with extreme temperatures. Liquid trees, for CO 2 capture, are an innovative approach to address urban pollution and improve air quality. Tetradesmus sp. exhibits potential for CO 2 biofixation under optimized conditions. This study evaluates the potential of this microalga to capture atmospheric CO 2 . To this end, a 125-day experiment was carried out to assess the influence of thermal variability and its correlation with CO 2 . Continuous CO 2 removal and temperature were monitored. Lipophilic pigments were analyzed for possible revalorization of biomass. Results showed a CO 2 maximal capture of 30–50%. Typical biomass productivity was 0.0882 ± 0.0457 g L −1 day −1 . The estimated yearly production of chlorophyll ( a and b ) was 0.3176 mg L −1 day −1 .This study highlights the importance of further research into new sustainable technologies towards reduction of CO 2 based on microalgae and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies leading to new opportunities for value-added algal based products.

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