Comments on: Capturing CO2 with E. coli enzymes http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/ Trends, happenings and innovations in the clean technology market Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:42:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/comment-page-1/#comment-1040 Anonymous Fri, 23 Feb 2007 18:38:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/#comment-1040 <i>No biological process is fast enough to capture those kinds of quantities unless you spread the biological agent over hundreds if not thousands of square miles.</i> Carbonic anhydrases are among the most active enzymes known. The turnover rate can be as high as 1 million reactions per enzyme molecule per second. At this rate, the entire CO2 output of a 1 GW(e) coal plant could be reacted by less than a mole of protein. No biological process is fast enough to capture those kinds of quantities unless you spread the biological agent over hundreds if not thousands of square miles.

Carbonic anhydrases are among the most active enzymes known. The turnover rate can be as high as 1 million reactions per enzyme molecule per second. At this rate, the entire CO2 output of a 1 GW(e) coal plant could be reacted by less than a mole of protein.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/comment-page-1/#comment-1041 Anonymous Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:31:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/#comment-1041 Carbonic anhydrase is an amazing enzyme. I wonder if they could trap it at the interface of a bipolar membrane (a membrane consisting of anion and cation-permeable membranes bonded together). If so, they might be able to make an electrodialysis stack that converts salt water plus CO2 into separate sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid solutions. Neutralize the acid on olivine and you've sequestered the CO2 in the bicarbonate. Carbonic anhydrase is an amazing enzyme. I wonder if they could trap it at the interface of a bipolar membrane (a membrane consisting of anion and cation-permeable membranes bonded together). If so, they might be able to make an electrodialysis stack that converts salt water plus CO2 into separate sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid solutions. Neutralize the acid on olivine and you’ve sequestered the CO2 in the bicarbonate.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/comment-page-1/#comment-1039 Anonymous Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:39:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/#comment-1039 May I suggest a slogan that's posted in nearby Liege, Belgium: 'Forcer l'avenir'. Which means so much as 'Don't wait until heaven descends on earth, but be a part of making that happen'. There's much we can do now: - meditate - choose life with our consumer behavior - be honest and courageous with ourselves - be honest and courageous when a naked emperor comes by - team up with like minded people - inspire others by following your heart Cheers, Emil M May I suggest a slogan that’s posted in nearby Liege, Belgium: ‘Forcer l’avenir’.

Which means so much as ‘Don’t wait until heaven descends on earth, but be a part of making that happen’.

There’s much we can do now:

- meditate

- choose life with our consumer behavior

- be honest and courageous with ourselves

- be honest and courageous when a naked emperor comes by

- team up with like minded people

- inspire others by following your heart

Cheers,

Emil M

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/comment-page-1/#comment-1038 Anonymous Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:29:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/#comment-1038 You mean it's very important to dream... You mean it’s very important to dream…

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/comment-page-1/#comment-1037 Anonymous Thu, 22 Feb 2007 22:58:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/02/22/capturing-co2-with-e-coli-enzymes/#comment-1037 I doubt this - or greenfuel's algae capture process - has much potential at all. Do you realize the massive quantities and rates of CO2 that are emitted by a decent-sized power plant? No biological process is fast enough to capture those kinds of quantities unless you spread the biological agent over hundreds if not thousands of square miles. And, that's just the tip of the iceberg of problems you would face. It's nice to dream though. I doubt this – or greenfuel’s algae capture process – has much potential at all. Do you realize the massive quantities and rates of CO2 that are emitted by a decent-sized power plant? No biological process is fast enough to capture those kinds of quantities unless you spread the biological agent over hundreds if not thousands of square miles. And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg of problems you would face. It’s nice to dream though.

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