Published on: 2026-05-22
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
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Researchers from Novosibirsk State University, as part of the Carbon Polygon NGU project, published experimental data on the application of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase for accelerating the sequestration of carbon dioxide during the processing of asbestos-containing wastes. The article “Biomimetic CO2 sequestration using carbonic anhydrase for sustainable management of hazardous asbestos containing wastes” was published in a journalBioresource Technology Reports.
—One of the methods for long-term removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (Carbon Dioxide Removal, CDR) is mineral carbonation — the reaction of CO2 with magnesium and calcium silicates, leading to the formation of stable carbonate minerals. Mining industry waste, including serpentinite waste from chrysotile production, can be considered as a potential substrate for such climate projects. However, under natural conditions, the rate of carbonation of these materials is low due to the slow hydration of CO2, limiting its interaction with the solid phase. This restricts the practical application of this technology., — director of the Climate Center of the NGU, candidate of physical and mathematical sciencesGeorgiy Lazorenko.
Scientists at the Climate Center of NGU experimentally studied the possibility of adding the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which catalyzes the hydration of CO2, to the system. In living organisms, this enzyme is responsible for the regulation of carbonic acid, and in biomimetic technology, it can be used to accelerate climate-relevant reactions. Experiments were conducted at room temperature both under normal atmospheric conditions and under elevated CO2 concentrations. The addition of the enzyme led to a faster initial binding of the gas and to an increase in its overall absorption compared to control samples without the enzyme.
—The obtained data demonstrate the fundamental possibility of using enzymatic catalysis to accelerate mineral CO2 sequestration at mining industry waste sites. This may be of interest for the development of climate projects aimed at combining CDR with the neutralization of industrial waste., — explained Georgy Lazorenko.
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