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Sustainable Utilization of CO 2 from Exhaust Gases for the Autotrophic Cultivation of the Biohydrogen-Producing Microalga Tetraselmis subcordiformis

Author

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  • Marcin Dębowski

    (Department of Environment Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Str. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Joanna Kazimierowicz

    (Department of Water Supply and Sewage Systems, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland)

  • Izabela Świca

    (Department of Environment Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Str. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Marcin Zieliński

    (Department of Environment Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Str. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of using exhaust gases as a CO 2 source in the cultivation of Tetraselmis subcordiformis microalgae for biomass and hydrogen production. It was shown that the growth rate of T. subcordiformis biomass and its biochemical composition depended on the CO 2 source. The highest growth rate of 286 ± 15 mgVS/L-d and a final biomass concentration of 2710 ± 180 mgVS/L were achieved in the variant where exhaust gases from a coal and biomass supplementary combustion plant were the CO 2 source (V2). The highest CO 2 reduction efficiency of 90.3 ± 3.2% was achieved in the case where waste gases from biogas combustion were the CO 2 source (V1). In V2, the highest CO 2 utilization efficiency was achieved (CO 2 UE = 46.7 ± 2.4%). Analyzing the biomass composition confirmed differences in total carbon content (TC) and polysaccharide fraction. The highest H 2 production efficiency and rate, which were 70.9 ± 2.7 mL/gVS and 2.27 ± 0.08 mL/gVS·h, respectively, were obtained in V2. The results obtained indicate the possibility of integrating fuel combustion processes with the cultivation of T. subcordiformis and photobiological H 2 production, which is a promising solution in the context of climate neutrality and the implementation of circular economy postulates. This approach demonstrates a sustainable strategy for linking industrial CO 2 emissions with the production of renewable biohydrogen and thus contributes to climate protection and the promotion of circular economy concepts.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcin Dębowski & Joanna Kazimierowicz & Izabela Świca & Marcin Zieliński, 2025. "Sustainable Utilization of CO 2 from Exhaust Gases for the Autotrophic Cultivation of the Biohydrogen-Producing Microalga Tetraselmis subcordiformis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8612-:d:1758009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marcin Dębowski & Magda Dudek & Marcin Zieliński & Anna Nowicka & Joanna Kazimierowicz, 2021. "Microalgal Hydrogen Production in Relation to Other Biomass-Based Technologies—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, September.
    2. Shashirekha Viswanaathan & Pitchurajan Krishna Perumal & Seshadri Sundaram, 2022. "Integrated Approach for Carbon Sequestration and Wastewater Treatment Using Algal–Bacterial Consortia: Opportunities and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Yang, Qiulian & Li, Haitao & Wang, Dong & Zhang, Xiaochun & Guo, Xiangqian & Pu, Shaochen & Guo, Ruixin & Chen, Jianqiu, 2020. "Utilization of chemical wastewater for CO2 emission reduction: Purified terephthalic acid (PTA) wastewater-mediated culture of microalgae for CO2 bio-capture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    4. João Gonçalves & Jorge Freitas & Igor Fernandes & Pedro Silva, 2023. "Microalgae as Biofertilizers: A Sustainable Way to Improve Soil Fertility and Plant Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-19, August.
    5. Marcin Zieliński & Łukasz Barczak & Paulina Rusanowska & Anna Nowicka & Marcin Dębowski, 2025. "Microbial Fuel Cells as CO 2 Source in the Autotrophic Cultivation of the Green Microalgae Tetraselmis subcordiformis : Impact on Biomass Growth, Nutrient Removal, and Hydrogen Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, February.
    6. Wioleta Babiak & Izabela Krzemińska, 2021. "Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) as Microalgal Bioproducts: A Review of Factors Affecting EPS Synthesis and Application in Flocculation Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-23, July.
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