CO2SOLSTOCK

Biobased geological CO2 storage

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This project fulfills the requirements of the topic Energy “Future emerging technologies” which covers all areas of the Theme Energy. In particular, this project aims at developing an emerging technology which consists in a new alternative sustainable solution to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. This objective fits the EU strategy to reducing greenhouse gases emissions by developing an environmentally safe carbon capture and geological storage policy. Indeed, most of the subterranean technologies consist in injecting CO2 as a gas at high pressures, leading inevitably to the possible problem of the leakage. In response to this issue, the transformation of CO2 into carbonate is now considered as an interesting solution for CO2 sequestration. 2 major options are under scrutiny. One is a physico-chemical approach in certain types of rocks. The other one is based on the abilities of a number of bacteria to precipitate carbonates, which in turn extends the geological sequestration opportunities beyond the strict deep underground ones. This project targets bacterial metabolic pathways enabling significant carbonate precipitation. In particular, “CO2SolStock” specific objectives are:1.To explore emerging alternative sustainable solutions related to microbiological pathways of carbonatation for CO2 sequestration; 2.To map out a scientific evaluation of the various routes and promises, from the surface to the deepest habitats; 3.To establish a tool-kit enabling scientific evaluation; 4.To validate the technology with at least 2 validated proof of concept tests for bacterial metabolism supported CO2 sequestration. The work programme consists in 7 WPs from literature scrutiny to demonstration, with transversal dissemination and management tasks. Outputs comprises tool-kit for bio-based stock tailored for various habitats and at least 2 systems ready for development towards industrial applications.The project involves 5 partners: 4 European universities & 1 SME.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU scientists are looking at ways to use bacteria to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) in soil as calcium carbonate (CaCO3), in an effort to reduce global CO2 levels.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a promising method to reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere, and scientists are looking at different approaches for achieving this. One possibility is to use the natural ability of certain bacteria to convert calcium and CO2 to CaCO3.

Scientists initiated the EU-funded http://www.co2solstock.org (CO2SOLSTOCK) (Biobased geological CO2 storage) project to find ways of using bacteria to precipitate carbonates, in order to store CO2 in a solid form. CO2 sequestration in the form of CaCO3 would also free CCS from the current restrictions to deep underground storage.

Scientists explored several pathways for achieving CaCO3 precipitation using bacteria. The most promising was the oxalate-carbonate pathway, in which bacteria use the chemical oxalate from trees (e.g. Iroko tree) to increase soil pH and precipitate CaCO3.

In addition, they showed that the pH shift in soil required for precipitation of CaCO3 depends on the simultaneous presence of fungi, bacteria and oxalate. This system occurs naturally in dry areas of western Africa, Bolivia and India and has been trialled successfully as part of agro-forestry projects in Haiti.

Another approach used industrial by-products (wastewater with desalination brine or silicate rocks) as carbon and calcium sources. CO2SOLSTOCK found some success with this approach, but further work is needed to optimise the process.

CO2SOLSTOCK results demonstrate the promise of bio-based carbon sequestration through the use of carbonate-forming bacteria. Combining CCS with reforestation efforts offers an exciting new approach to climate change mitigation.