In a groundbreaking development that could revolutionize the energy sector, researchers have discovered a way to significantly enhance the efficiency of direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide using enzymes. This innovation, published in Carbon Capture Science & Technology, could pave the way for more sustainable and cost-effective carbon capture technologies.
The study, led by Agnese Zaghini from the Protein Chemistry and Enzyme Technology department at the Technical University of Denmark and The Novo Nordisk Foundation CO₂ Research Center, focuses on the use of carbonic anhydrase (CA), an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate. The findings reveal that adding CA at micromolar concentrations can triple the CO2 absorption rate, achieving a capture efficiency of 60%.
This breakthrough is particularly exciting because it addresses one of the major challenges in DAC technology: the high energy requirements for regenerating sorbents. Traditional DAC methods often rely on chemical sorbents that need significant energy to release captured CO2, making the process less efficient and more costly. By using enzymes, the new method could potentially reduce these energy demands.
Zaghini explains, “Our research shows that carbonic anhydrase not only speeds up the absorption process but also maintains high efficiency even at increased flow rates. This could be a game-changer for the energy sector, making DAC more viable and economically feasible.”
The study also found that the enzyme’s effectiveness was comparable in both KOH (potassium hydroxide) and carbonate solutions, suggesting that enzyme-assisted DAC could offset the kinetic advantages of hydroxides. This versatility opens up new possibilities for integrating enzyme-assisted DAC into existing carbon capture systems.
The implications of this research are vast. As the world continues to grapple with climate change, the need for effective carbon capture technologies has never been more urgent. By enhancing the efficiency and reducing the cost of DAC, this enzyme-assisted method could accelerate the deployment of carbon capture solutions across various industries.
Zaghini adds, “We believe that our findings could eventually lead to the development of sorbents with low regeneration energies, making carbon capture more sustainable and economically viable. This could be a significant step towards achieving zero emissions.”
The publication of this research in Carbon Capture Science & Technology, which translates to Carbon Capture Science & Technology, underscores its potential impact on the field. As the energy sector continues to evolve, innovations like this one will be crucial in shaping a more sustainable future.
