Current Status and Future of Biotechnology for Carbon Capture, Storage, and Negative Emissions

Throughout Earth’s history, microbial processes have been the key drivers in controlling atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Most importantly, these microorganisms will continue to influence greenhouse biogenic gas flux either by amplifying or reducing the rate of climate change. It is up to us to improve our understanding and leverage microbial processes in a desirable prospect for carbon capture and storage or negative emission technology applications.
Microorganisms exhibit an impeccable capability to facilitate evolved mechanisms in sequestering inorganic carbon at higher pace to produce biomaterials with a wide range of industrial applications. Thus, central biochemical routes along with associated enzymes, serve as considerable factors for understanding microbial carbon dioxide assimilation and conversion.

This research topic addresses the main question: how can humankind harness microbial processes to manage climate change? We will be endorsing research and study-cases ranging from microscale to full scale deployment. These will include natural or synthetically engineered microorganisms used to convert CO2 into building block molecules of value for a wide range of industrial applications. Associated studies on techno-economic analysis, life cycle analysis and environmental social and governance of the use of biotechnology for CO2 conversion are also welcomed, specifically those that distinguish between the longevity of carbon storage in products and the implications for net negative emissions or emissions reduction

We would like to draw authors from industry and academic environments with experience in: artificial laboratory evolution; molecular biology; bioprocess design and engineering; techno-economic and life cycle analysis focused on biotechnology conversion of CO2. More specifically, we would like to understand current bottlenecks of and how novel biological-mediated strategies could help us pave the map for the future of biotech industries seeking energy transition. This includes trends of new chemical production from CO2 to feedstock or added value products; discovery of new organisms with great potential for industrial CO2 conversion in scale; biomolecular and genetic engineering techniques for bioprocess optimization, etc.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Technology and Code

Keywords: biotechnology, microorganisms, industry, biomolecules, Negative Emissions

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.