A comprehensive review of flue gas bio-mitigation: chemolithotrophic interactions with flue gas in bio-reactors as a sustainable possibility for technological advancements

Rachael Jovita Barla; Smita Raghuvanshi; Suresh Gupta

doi:10.1007/s11356-024-33407-6

A comprehensive review of flue gas bio-mitigation: chemolithotrophic interactions with flue gas in bio-reactors as a sustainable possibility for technological advancements

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Apr 26. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-33407-6. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Rachael Jovita Barla¹, Smita Raghuvanshi², Suresh Gupta¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India. smita@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in.

PMID: 38668951
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33407-6

Abstract

Flue gas mitigation technologies aim to reduce the environmental impact of flue gas emissions, particularly from industrial processes and power plants. One approach to mitigate flue gas emissions involves bio-mitigation, which utilizes microorganisms to convert harmful gases into less harmful or inert substances. The review thus explores the bio-mitigation efficiency of chemolithotrophic interactions with flue gas and their potential application in bio-reactors. Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that can derive energy from inorganic compounds, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂), present in the flue gas. These microorganisms utilize specialized enzymatic pathways to oxidize these compounds and produce energy. By harnessing the metabolic capabilities of chemolithotrophs, flue gas emissions can be transformed into value-added products. Bio-reactors provide controlled environments for the growth and activity of chemolithotrophic microorganisms. Depending on the specific application, these can be designed as suspended or immobilized reactor systems. The choice of bio-reactor configuration depends on process efficiency, scalability, and ease of operation. Factors influencing the bio-mitigation efficiency of chemolithotrophic interactions include the concentration and composition of the flue gas, operating conditions (such as temperature, pH, and nutrient availability), and reactor design. Chemolithotrophic interactions with flue gas in bio-reactors offer a potentially efficient approach to mitigating flue gas emissions. Continued research and development in this field are necessary to optimize reactor design, microbial consortia, and operating conditions. Advances in understanding the metabolism and physiology of chemolithotrophic microorganisms will contribute to developing robust and scalable bio-mitigation technologies for flue gas emissions.

Keywords: Bio-mitigation; Bio-reactors; Chemolithotrophs; Flue gas; Reaction pathways.

Publication types

Review