CO2, NOx and SOx removal from flue gas via microalgae cultivation: A critical review. Issue 6 (30th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yen, Hong‐Wei; Ho, Shih‐Hsin; Chen, Chun‐Yen; Chang, Jo‐Shu
• Is Part Of: Biotechnology journal. Volume 10:Issue 6(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 829
• Page End: 839
• Publication Date: 2015-04-30
• Subjects: Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 660.605
• DOI: 10.1002/biot.201400707
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1860-6768

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Flue gas refers to the gas emitting from the combustion processes, and it contains CO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>x</sub>, SO<sub>x</sub> and other potentially hazardous compounds. Due to the increasing concerns of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and environmental pollution, the cleaning process of flue gas has attracted much attention. Using microalgae to clean up flue gas via photosynthesis is considered a promising CO<sub>2</sub> mitigation process for flue gas. However, the impurities in the flue gas may inhibit microalgal growth, leading to a lower microalgae‐based CO<sub>2</sub> fixation rate. The inhibition effects of SO<sub>x</sub> that contribute to the low pH could be alleviated by maintaining a stable pH level, while NO<sub>x</sub> can be utilized as a nitrogen source to promote microalgae growth when it dissolves and is oxidized in the culture medium. The yielded microalgal biomass from fixing flue gas CO<sub>2</sub> and utilizing NO<sub>x</sub> and SO<sub>x</sub> as nutrients would become suitable feedstock to produce biofuels and bio‐based chemicals. In addition to the removal of SO<sub>x</sub>, NO<sub>x</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub>, using microalgae to remove heavy metals from flue gas is also quite attractive. In conclusion, the use of microalgae for simultaneous removal of CO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>x</sub> and NO<sub>x</sub> from flue gas is an environmentally benign process and represents an ideal platform for CO<sub>2</sub> reutilization.</p> </abstract>