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Abstract

The feasibility of using CO₂ from a concentrated source to grow microalgae is limited by the high cost of CO₂ capture and transportation, as well as significant CO₂ loss during algae culture. Another challenge is the inability of algae in using CO₂ during night while CO₂ is continuously produced from the source. To address these challenges, this invention provides a process in which CO₂ 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 CO₂, 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 CO₂, and using bicarbonate provides a better alternative for CO₂ delivery to algae culture systems than supplying CO₂ gas.

First Claim