Cell-Free Carbon Capture

Medusa Materials is at the forefront of developing a pioneering carbon capture and mineralization technology to address the pressing challenge of CO2 emissions from heavy industries, such as cement, steel, and glass. These industries contribute significantly to the UK's annual 30 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Traditional carbon capture and storage (CCS) methods are energy-intensive and expensive, making them unsuitable for industries operating on thin margins. Our project offers an innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solution to this problem.

Our technology harnesses the natural catalytic power of carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzyme, which can catalyse CO2 hydration rapidly. Once converted, CO2 reacts with alkaline ions to precipitate stable carbonate minerals, a process known as carbonate precipitation. This method not only captures CO2 effectively but also transforms it into valuable minerals like calcium carbonate.

Medusa Materials' aim is to reduce enzyme production costs and addresses scalability challenges. This strategy provides a sustainable pathway for large-scale carbon capture, offering a viable alternative to traditional CCS technologies. The project aims to evaluate the technical feasibility and economic viability of this novel approach, paving the way for its adoption across heavy industries to decarbonise.