Socioecology Research Today

The rapid application of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a much heralded means to tackle emissions from both existing and future sources that, however, simply may not deliver the expected benefits. Apart from some doubts about the efficacy of the geological storage, the present stall in deploying carbon capture and storage (no fossil-fuel power [...]

This study presents a systems approach for comparing alternative routes for converting CO2 to liquid fuel using solar energy based on a novel metric of sun-to-fuel (STF) efficiency. The metric refers to the fraction of incident solar energy that is recovered in the liquid fuel. The STF efficiency analysis identifies energy and land use efficient [...]

This study evaluated an internally illuminated photobioreactor (IIPBR) design for improving biomass productivity through better utilization of light and carbon dioxide-supplementation. Growth of Scenedesmus sp. and Nannochloropsis salina in an 18-L version of this design was evaluated under artificial light at varying CO2–air (vol/vol) ratios, but at constant air supply rate of 0.8 L min−1 [...]

Batch, modified semi-continuous and continuous cultivations of Chlorella vulgaris C9-JN 2010 cells in municipal effluent were performed and analyzed. The experiments were carried out in 7.5-L photo-bioreactors, to which 2% of CO2 was supplied. Biomass and specific growth rate of C. vulgaris were 0.528–0.760 g l−1 and 0.200–0.374 d−1, respectively. Meanwhile, it could efficiently remove [...]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie301451e In this study, a comprehensive infrastructure assessment model for carbon capture and storage (CiamCCS) is developed for (i) planning a carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure that includes CO 2 capture, utilization, sequestration and transportation technologies, and for (ii) integrating the major CCS assessment methods, i.e., techno-economic assessment (TEA), environmental assessment (EA), and technical [...]

http://news.uga.edu/releases/article/uga-discovery-may-allow-scientists-to-make-fuel-from-co2-in-the-atmosp/ The process is made possible by a unique microorganism called Pyrococcus furiosus, or “rushing fireball,” which thrives by feeding on carbohydrates in the super-heated ocean waters near geothermal vents. By manipulating the organism’s genetic material, Adams and his colleagues created a kind of P. furiosus that is capable of feeding at much lower temperatures [...]

Agricultural management strongly affects soil organic carbon (C), as shown by numerous long-term experiments (1). Practices known to increase soil C include adding organic manures and including grassland in crop rotations. Their effect on C is related to the net primary productivity of the agroecosystem and the fraction of organic matter remaining in the field [...]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and geologic storage has been postulated as one possible method to stabilize the atmospheric concentration of CO2 by injecting and storing it in deep geologic formations. This issue paper analyzes the viability of capture and geologic storage of becoming an effective method to aid in stabilizing the atmospheric concentration of CO2. [...]

Mineral carbonation of alkaline waste materials is being studied extensively for its potential as a way of reducing the increased level of CO2 in the atmosphere. Carbonation converts CO2 into minerals which are stable over geological time scales. This process occurs naturally but slowly, and needs to be accelerated to offset the present rate of [...]

Enrichment is a prerequisite for CO2 reduction from air and demands mild conditions for energy saving. Electrochemically generated OH– and H+ can be employed for atmosphere CO2 enrichment (capture and recovery) under ambient condition. This study demonstrated the importance of the coexisting ambient O2 in the electrochemical OH–/H+ generation. Our system showed that CO2 in [...]