Researchers at the University of Florida may have found a solution.
By Raif Karerat
Researchers may have found a possible solution for reducing global carbon dioxide emissions in the form of minute, deep-sea bacteria.
While carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gases, it can be captured and neutralized in a process called sequestration, which the bacteria Thiomicrospira crunogena enables by producing an enzyme that helps remove carbon dioxide in organisms.
Furthermore, the bacteria lives amongst hydrothermal vents, which indicates the enzyme it produces is accustomed to high temperatures — a prerequisite if the enzyme is to be used reduce industrial carbon dioxide.
“This little critter has evolved to deal with those extreme temperature and pressure problems,” said lead researcher Dr. Robert McKenna, of the University of Florida, in a news release. “It has already adapted to some of the conditions it would face in an industrial setting.”
Researchers believe the enzyme could be suspended in a solvent and installed as a filter inside a smokestack or exhaust pipe, but scientists need a lot of the enzyme for such aspirations to become a reality.
Fortunately, McKenna and his colleagues have found a way to synthesize the enzyme in their lab using E. coli bacteria, arduous trips to depths of the ocean floor and back.
McKenna’s research into the enzyme applications was recently published in the journals “Acta Crystallographica Section D,” “Biological Crystallography” and “Chemical Engineering Science.”
1 Comment
Interesting, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas however humans only contribute about 0.28%, if water vapor is taken into account– about 5.53%, if not. So using the word major is misleading.