In a first-of-its-kind trial project, a CO2-removal method known as enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is being combined with biotechnology to accelerate atmospheric CO2 sequestration. FabricNano (London, U.K.) and Veolia (Paris, France) have embarked on a partnership wherein enzymes applied to rocks are being used to permanently store atmospheric CO2 via ERW. This ERW trial, located near Bicester, U.K., involves large-particle basalt rock fines sourced from local mining operations. When spread over the ground, the rocks react with CO2 in rainwater to permanently store it.
>> In Other News: Ole Vesterbæk Resigns as CFO of Green Hydrogen Systems
Currently, ERW processes are limited by mass transfer (CO2 diffusion into water over rock surface area) and by the equilibrium rate of carbonic acid formation when CO2 is dissolved in water, but immobilizing enzymes onto rocks promises to drastically shorten the timescale for carbon sequestration, and also enable the use of larger rock particles.
“Applying the enzyme to the surface of ultramafic silicate rocks (most commonly basalt) shifts the equilibrium from mostly CO2 and water to mostly carbonic acid, which then reacts with the salt in the rock, such as calcium, magnesium or sodium, to neutralize the acid, thereby weathering the rock,” says Grant Aarons, CEO and co-founder of FabricNano. For the ERW trials, a recombinantly expressed carbonic anhydrase enzyme has been acquired as protein powder and then reformulated to optimize immobilization to silicate rocks. Aarons emphasizes that this enzyme is commonly encountered in agricultural settings, as it is naturally released into soil by microorganisms.
“We use 1-L reactors to accelerate ERW testing in the laboratory where we can feed CO2 at higher rates than exist in the ambient atmosphere,” says Aarons. This trial is the next step in moving from the laboratory to the field. “We are planning more than ten additional trial sites with Veolia this year, where each site is 5–30 hectares in size,” says Aarons.
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Inside This Issue 🌎 Chevron Doubles Down on Carbon Capture with Massive Bayou Bend Hub 🌱 Manitoba Startup Pitches $5 Million Biochar Processing Plant to Ritchot Municipality 🏭 MATHESON to Build Ne...
Inside This Issue 🌎 History Made: Deep Sky Alpha Begins Operations with North America's First CO2 Storage via Direct Air Capture 🏅 Neste Achieved Platinum Medal in EcoVadis Sustainability Assessme...
Inside This Issue 🌱 Why Gevo's Live BECCS Project Changes Everything 🛢️ Alternative Carbon Carrier Technology Could Improve Both Oil Production and Carbon Storage 🌊 Hyundai Engineering & Const...
MATHESON to Build New Air Separation Plant in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, ION Clean Energy (ION), a leading provider of innovative post-combustion carbon capture solutions, announced a new offering called ICE Blocks™. These standar...
Manitoba Startup Pitches $5 Million Biochar Processing Plant to Ritchot Municipality
A pioneering waste management solution could soon transform how one Manitoba community handles organic waste. This week, Carbon Lock Tech, an innovative local startup, presented an ambitious propos...
What US Clean Energy Tax Credit Types Are Available in 2025?
In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) paved the way to grow clean energy investments in the US by extending and adding new types of tax credits. Its largest innovation, transferability, allow...
Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Coalition Launches, Creates Forum to Responsibly Grow the Field
The coalition unites marine carbon removal companies, nonprofits, and academics to advance research and the responsible development of the sector WASHINGTON, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mari...
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.