Production of Carbon Material from Low Concentration CO2 via Microbial CO2 Reduction and Pyrolysis

Stanford researchers have developed a novel pathway to upcycle waste CO₂ into graphitic carbon nanomaterials. Addressing the urgent challenge of rising atmospheric CO₂ levels, this process transforms dilute CO₂ streams, such as air or flue gases, into an industrially valuable product. Carbon nanomaterials do not readily decompose and can therefore act as semi-permanent carbon storage depending on end-use.

The pathway uniquely integrates biological and thermochemical transformations. It pioneers the use of microbes for CO₂ conversion directly from CO₂ captured in alkaline solution. Powered by H₂, biotrickling filters with alkaliphilic hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaea and hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria convert CO₂ to methane. The produced methane is then pyrolyzed to form carbon. Compared to alternative CO₂ capture and use pathways, this pathway avoids intermediate product separations and produces high quality carbon from dilute CO₂ feedstocks.

This technology is an appealing solution to convert and store waste CO₂ as valuable carbon nanomaterials, a material in high demand for use in electronics, batteries, and building materials.

See Related Technologies:
A semi-continuous process for co-production of CO2-free hydrogen and carbon nanotubes via methane pyrolysis
Microbial-driven atmospheric CO2 conversion for large-scale carbon sequestration

Stage of Development: Proof of concept