| abstract |
The feasibility of using CO 2 from a concentrated source to grow microalgae is limited by the high cost of CO 2 capture and transportation, as well as significant CO 2 loss during algae culture. Another challenge is the inability of algae in using CO 2 during night while CO 2 is continuously produced from the source. To address these challenges, this invention provides a process in which CO 2 is captured as bicarbonate and used as feedstock for algae culture. Then the carbonate is regenerated in the algae culture process as absorbent to capture more CO 2 , which is converted to bicarbonate for use as feedstock, etc. This process significantly reduces carbon capture costs since it avoids the energy for carbonate regeneration. Also, transporting a solid or aqueous bicarbonate solution has a much lower cost than transporting compressed CO 2 , and using bicarbonate provides a better alternative for CO 2 delivery to algae culture systems than supplying CO 2 gas. |