Calcium carbonate formation by Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 8806 and Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 8807

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 97; no. 18; pp. 2427 - 2434
• Main Authors: Lee, Brady D., Apel, William A., Walton, Michelle R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: 20 - FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS, 60 - APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; ACID CARBONATES; Bicarbonates - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; BIOMASS; Biotechnology; calcification; CALCIUM; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium carbonate; Calcium Carbonate - metabolism; CALCIUM CARBONATES; CARBON; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; carbon dioxide sequestration; Carbon sequestration; CARBONATES; Chemical Precipitation; COAL; CYANOBACTERIA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; MICROCOSMS; PHYSIOLOGY; POWER GENERATION; PRECIPITATION; REMOVAL; STRAINS; Synechococcus; Synechococcus - drug effects; Synechococcus - metabolism; Synechocystis; whitings; Synechocystis; Carbon sequestration; Cyanobacteria; Synechococcus; Calcium carbonate; Bacteria
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2005.09.028

Precipitation of CaCO 3 catalyzed by the growth and physiology of cyanobacteria in the genus Synechococcus represents a potential mechanism for sequestration of atmospheric CO 2 produced during the burning of coal for power generation. Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 8806 and Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 8807 were tested in microcosm experiments for their ability to calcify when exposed to a fixed calcium concentration of 3.4 mM and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations of 0.5, 1.25 and 2.5 mM. Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 8806 removed calcium continuously over the duration of the experiment producing approximately 18.6 mg of solid phase calcium. Calcium removal occurred over a two-day time period when Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 8807 was tested and only 8.9 mg of solid phase calcium was produced. Creation of an alkaline growth environment catalyzed by the physiology of the cyanobacteria appeared to be the primary factor responsible for CaCO 3 precipitation in these experiments.