Das Enzym steigert die Geschwindigkeit der Kohlenstoffabscheidungstechnologie aus Gestein um das Zehnfache und kann bis zu 40 Millionen Tonnen CO2 pro Jahr binden

The urgency to capture 70 million tons of CO2 annually by 2030, as recommended by the IPCC, has led to innovative approaches in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. One such initiative is a new trial in the UK, where biotechnology startup FabricNano and international resource management company Veolia have teamed up to enhance the natural process of rock weathering to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere more rapidly.

Traditionally, rock weathering involves spreading basalt rock dust on agricultural land, where it reacts with rainwater containing atmospheric CO2 to form carbonates, thus locking the carbon in the soil. However, this natural process can take over 30 years to show significant results. The new trial aims to expedite this process using FabricNano’s patented technology involving the carbonic anhydrase enzyme.

This enzyme, which naturally occurs in many biological species including humans, helps accelerate the conversion of CO2 into carbonates. By integrating this enzyme with basalt rock dust, FabricNano claims the weathering process can be reduced from decades to just a couple of years. The trial will involve spreading 30,000 tonnes of basalt rock across UK farmland.

Preliminary results from a trial near Bicester, UK, have shown promise. The enzyme-infused rock dust has been successfully spread on farmland, potentially leading to significant carbon sequestration. According to research from the University of Sheffield, this accelerated process could remove between 6 to 40 million tonnes of CO2 annually in the UK alone.

Grant Aarons, CEO and co-founder of FabricNano, emphasizes the enzyme’s availability and its role in enhancing soil quality and agricultural yield. Veolia’s head of corporate development, Marine Avisse, highlights the alignment of this trial with Veolia’s ecological transformation strategy and the potential for rapid global scaling if successful.

This innovative approach not only aims to meet the IPCC’s carbon capture targets but also offers additional benefits such as improved soil quality and reduced fertilizer needs, making it a promising solution in the fight against climate change.