Algae Based Carbon Capture

Algae live on a high concentration of carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide -- pollutants that are released by automobiles, cement plants, breweries, fertilizer plants, steel plants.

Using algae for reducing the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is known as algae - based Carbon Capture technology. The algae production facilities can thus be fed with the exhaust gases from these plants to significantly increase the algal productivity and clean up the air.

About 1.8 tons of CO2 are required for producing one ton of algae. A coal power plant produces about 1 ton of CO2 for every MWh of energy produced. An additional benefit from this technology is that the oil found in algae can be processed into a biodiesel.

Advantages of algae based carbon capture are discussed - namely high purity of co2 not required, simplifies process of flue gas scrubbing, microalgae yields high value commercial products that offsets operation cost of process.

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