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Maximizing Marine Carbon Removal by Coupling Electrochemical and Biological Methods

Journal Article · · Environmental Science & Technology Letters
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  1. BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Integrated development of emerging marine decarbonization strategies offers the possibility of lowering CO2 removal costs and enabling their widespread deployment. In this study we examine the feasibility and benefits of coupling electrochemical and biological marine carbon removal strategies. Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BPMED) is used to generate acid and alkalinity from seawater and electricity, and the alkalinity is returned to the ocean for indirect CO2 removal from the atmosphere, but the acid stream is a waste product. Considering the large-scale of CO2 removal necessary, the acid storage, neutralization, and disposal have prohibitive costs and carbon footprint. Here we investigate the feasibility to valorize the acid stream to enhance the growth and CO2 uptake through photosynthesis in the fast-growing marine phytoplankter Picochlorum celeri. When added to active algae cultures, the BPMED-generated acidified seawater alters the carbonate-bicarbonate equilibrium thereby increasing the bioavailability of CO2 and the observed growth rates. Additions of up to 2 mM H+ from BPMED effluent streams increased algal productivity up to 3-fold. A high-level analysis conducted based on experimental data to estimate the potential of sequestered CO2 emissions when compared to conventional commercial means of acid utilization or disposal, is estimated to be ~30 kgCO2 / kgacid. Through further development and optimization in terms of choice of algal species, growth conditions, acid addition rates, etc. the combined electrochemical-biological approach has the potential to achieve higher net CO2 removal.
Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
2479094
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-190901
Journal Information:
Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Journal Name: Environmental Science & Technology Letters Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 11
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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  • Raven, John A.; Cockell, Charles S.; De La Rocha, Christina L.
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Vol. 363, Issue 1504 https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0020
journal May 2008

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