Journal article
Beyond carbonate biomineralization: why prokaryote-driven CO2 sequestration demands holistic evaluation
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Vol.13, pp.1-8
2025
PMCID: PMC12665748
PMID: 41333584
Abstract
Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) offers a promising biological approach to sequester atmospheric CO2 as stable mineral carbonates, mitigating climate change impacts. This perspective highlights the complexity underpinning prokaryote-driven biomineralization processes, emphasizing the necessity for holistic evaluation beyond simple carbonate formation. Key metabolic pathways such as carbonic anhydrase-mediated CO2 hydration, ureolysis, photosynthesis, and sulfate reduction contribute variably to mineral precipitation and the carbon footprint. Furthermore, calcium carbonate polymorphs with varying stability forms can affect carbon storage durability, while net carbon sequestration estimates often overlook critical factors including respiratory CO2 release, growth phases, and embodied emissions in microbial nutrient substrates. Finally, differentiating between transient microbial organic carbon and long-term mineral carbon storage is essential for accurate carbon accounting. Lifecycle carbon footprints vary significantly with metabolic strategies and substrate choices, impacting sustainable application prospects. Advancing MICP as an effective carbon removal technology requires integrated assessment of microbial physiology, environmental interactions, and process lifecycle emissions to optimize CO2 drawdown with environmental and economic viability.
Details
- Title
- Beyond carbonate biomineralization: why prokaryote-driven CO2 sequestration demands holistic evaluation
- Authors
- Richard Schinteie (Corresponding Author) - CSIRO Energy Centre (Australia)Veena Nagaraj - The University of Western AustraliaLinda Stalker - CSIRO Energy Centre (Australia)Nai Tran-Dinh - CSIRO Energy Centre (Australia)David J. Midgley - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Bioinnovation
- Publication details
- Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Vol.13, pp.1-8
- Publisher
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1690042
- ISSN
- 2296-4185
- PMID
- 41333584; PMC12665748
- Copyright note
- © 2025 Schinteie, Nagaraj, Stalker, Tran-Dinh and Midgley. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
- Data Availability
- The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
- Grant note
- The CSIRO CarbonLock Future Science Platform, and the CSIRO Energy Research Unit.
- Organisation Unit
- Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991192143302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
- Engineering, Biomedical