Accelerating sustainable development in hard-to-abate sectors: An economic case for enzymatic carbon capture

The continuous rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels, primarily driven by extensive petroleum energy consumption, is a major contributor to global climate change. A promising approach to mitigate this issue is Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), where CO₂ capture plays a pivotal role. Among emerging biological solutions, carbonic anhydrase—a natural enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of CO₂ into bicarbonate—has gained considerable attention for its potential in efficient carbon capture. Despite its promise, large-scale industrial application faces challenges due to the enzyme’s instability, volatility, and high production costs. To address these limitations, three key strategies have been developed: enzyme engineering to improve performance, immobilization techniques to enhance stability and reusability, and the development of synthetic analogs known as carbonic anhydrase mimics. These approaches not only improve the enzyme's resilience but also expand its applicability in harsh industrial conditions. Additionally, studies are focusing on optimizing the interaction between support materials and the enzyme to boost catalytic efficiency. The development of enzyme mimics, particularly through improved metal-ligand coordination, offers a cost-effective and stable alternative. Collectively, these innovations represent a significant step toward sustainable carbon management, providing scalable and environmentally friendly solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. • Carbonic anhydrase offers eco-friendly CO₂ capture potential. • Enzyme engineering improves stability and catalytic efficiency. • Immobilization enhances enzyme reusability in harsh conditions. • Synthetic CA mimics provide cost-effective, stable alternatives. • Metal–ligand optimization boosts mimic performance for CCUS.