Enhanced carbon dioxide fixation of Chlorella vulgaris in microalgae reactor loaded with nanofiber membrane carried iron oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

To improve the CO2 dissolution and carbon fixation in the process of microalgae capturing CO2 from flue gas, a nanofiber membrane containing iron oxide nanoparticles (NPsFe2O3) for CO2 adsorption was prepared, and coupled with microalgae utilization to achieve carbon removal. The performance test results showed that the largest specific surface area and pore size were 8.148 m2 g−1 and 27.505 Å, respectively, when the nanofiber membrane had 4% NPsFe2O3. Through CO2 adsorption experiments, it was found that the nanofiber membrane could prolong the CO2 residence time and increase CO2 dissolution. Then, the nanofiber membrane was used as a CO2 adsorbent and semifixed culture carrier in the Chlorella vulgaris culture process. The results showed that compared with the group without nanofiber membrane (0 layer), the biomass productivity, CO2 fixation efficiency and carbon fixation efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris with 2 layers of membranes increased by 1.4 times.