Increased Carbon Capture Capacity of Alkaline Microalgae
Highly alkaline solutions (pH ≥ 10) absorb CO2 rapidly from atmosphere. Hence, alkaliphilic microalgal strains, which thrive and grow in alkaline media, constitute an efficient means of atmospheric CO2 capture.
In this study, scientists from Toledo performed an experiment where effect of increasing the media alkalinity on algal growth and the resulting improvement in CO2 sequestration was evaluated by cultivating alkaliphilic microalgae Chlorella Spp. in open ponds under pH uncontrolled conditions.
Results indicated that maintaining higher alkalinity for growth medium during open-pond cultivation of alkaliphilic algae is a valuable strategy that leads improved biomass productivity as well as superior atmospheric CO2 capture.