CAPTURING CARBON AND NATURAL SOLUTIONS

Yashwant Sompura

University College of Science, MLS University, Udaipur Rajasthan (313001).

ABSTRACT

Recently swiss start-up company climeworks AG and carbfix (Icelandic carbon storage firm) introduced world largest carbon capturing plant from air in Iceland. The carbon emissions are the major problem of today. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) 31.5 GT carbon emitted in 2020 due to Covid19 it decreases 5.2 %. By the carbon capturing technology, the emitted carbon is then transferred from their production areas to deep underground via pipelines etc. Moreover, this is not a natural way to capturing the carbon. There are many types of microorganisms are found which capture the emitted carbon and stored in large quantity every year. In this paper I will discuss about those organisms specially algae whose play an important role to capturing the carbon and their fixation and what are the natural solutions for Carbon capturing.

Keyword: photosynthesis, microalgae, biofuel, enhanced weathering, high tech filters, blowers Orca.

ALGAL CARBON CAPTURING

Algae (Gr. alga=seaweed). algae may be aquatic (freshwater or marine water) and terrestrial. These are major source of photosynthesis on the planet. Most of the photosynthesis (99%) occurs from algae and formation of biomass which transfer in ecosystem. Moreover, they play an important role in capturing of carbon and converted into oxygen and biomass. All the microalgae have a chlorophyll pigment which is essential for photosynthesis. These microalgae capture the carbon by means of photosynthesis. All the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere converted into biomass and stored as starch, oil etc. Photosynthesis has more capacity to capture the carbon. This process occurs only in days.

 

Figure:1. Capturing carbon by algae.

ALGAL BIOMASS

Microalgae has important characteristic that capturing the carbon. Microalgae utilize the capturing carbon and converted into biomass such as carbohydrate by means of photosynthesis. These microalgae useful in biofuel production, for environmental control by balance the carbon concentration in the atmosphere. These microalgae need bicarbonate ion which is a non-gaseous form of carbon dioxide and converted into biomass. These produce hydrogen gas which act as eco-friendly biofuel and has no harmful effect on environment. It also produces ethanol which can be used as a biofuel.

NATURAL SOLUTIONS

Carbon (CO2) causes major problem in increasing global crisis such as climate change. There are some nature-based solution described below which are removes stored carbon from the atmospheric air: 

 

Figure.2: Natural solution for carbon capturing.

A. Forestation: 

Forestation is the most and best solution for removes carbon from atmosphere by means of photosynthesis and its provide biomass to the organism. 

B. Farmland: 

Soils are natural sink for storage of carbon. In agriculture, soil is major source for carbon but it is running soil due to minute use. Moreover, on farm's, trees may also helpful for other welfare such as shade etc. The high concentration of carbon in soil is good for farmers. thus, integrating trees on farm play an important role in removal of carbon. 

C. Enhanced weathering: 

It is a natural process. All the minerals naturally act with CO2 and converted the CO2 (gaseous) form to solid form. This is generally referred as enhanced weathering. It is a slow process and takes in many hundred years. But in present, the carbon removal is the main problem for us. So how to we the enhancement of carbon.? The solution is enhancing the exposure of Carbon react with minerals to CO2 present in the atmospheric air. It can also use to store CO2 through injecting into rocks and form a carbonate.

D. By oceanic algae:

This is also natural based solution. There are many kinds of algae found in oceans such as Rhodella, Stylonema, Bangia, (Rhodophyceae) and Fucales , Dictyotales (Pheophyceae) which are marine species and play an important role in capturing carbon and stored as biomass every year in millions of GT. Thus, we should increase the number in this type of algae’s. 

E. Directly from air:

This is one of the technology that have capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmospheric air. Approximately 15 plants are operating recently. These plants capture the carbon directly from air. world largest plant established by American oil company which has to capture 1Mil.ton carbon dioxide.

F. By technology:

Recently, there are new technology introduced which have capacity to capture the carbon from atmosphere. Such as Orca (Icelandic word "orca"= energy). It is a new generation plant established for capturing carbon. It has large 8 containers. All the containers have high tech filters and blowers for capturing the carbon. The captured carbon stored in underground containers and after few times it turns unto rocks material.

CONCLUSION

Thus, it is clear from this article that carbon capturing and storage is major challenge for us and we should have use of new technology for capturing the carbon and also natural methods such as forestation. New technology has capacity to reduce the carbon present in the atmospheric air. Although new technology is costly but in future it plays a significant role for capturing and storing of carbon. The need of the hour is to establishment of the new plants which could help in capturing of carbon and storage