Microbial electrolysis carbon capture

Most mitigation goals to remove CO2 from the atmosphere are based on high levels of CO2 produced by fossil fuel combustion as a basis for energy production.

[1] Microbial electrolysis carbon capture (MECC) is a process that contributes to sustainable energy practice in both private and public sectors.

MECC takes advantage of properties inherent to wastewater, such as organic content, to remove carbon dioxide and produce calcite precipitate and hydrogen gas.

[3] Negatively charged surfaces on microbes have a high affinity for cations such as Ca2+ and, though metabolic function, increase saturation of CO2 in solution.

Microbial electrolytic carbon capture has yet to be implemented in present wastewater plants, therefore economic cost and benefits are current projections based on research of the technology rather than operational data.

[1] The projected net cost of $48 per ton of mitigated CO2 is lower than estimated costs for pulverized coal power plant post-combustion carbon capture absorption using MEA and geologic sequestration ($65/t-CO2),[5] which is currently the most prolific Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) technique.

[1] Further research is needed to predict the scope of costs and setbacks related to engineering and running a functional MECC system within current wastewater plants.

[1] Critics of MECC discuss inefficiencies of the process, installation, materials, and potential setbacks that may result in economic losses.