Carbon sequestration pathways in microorganisms: Advances, strategies, and applications

Abstract

In recent years, industrial activities have significantly increased atmospheric CO₂ levels, exacerbating global warming. Carbon reduction involves implementing measures to minimize CO₂ emissions from human activities and achieve a balance between carbon absorption and emissions. Therefore, effective reduction of CO₂ emissions is crucial. Conventional physical and chemical methods for CO₂ fixation frequently cause secondary environmental pollution. As a result, utilizing microorganisms for CO₂ fixation has gained considerable interest. This review provides an overview of the natural pathways for microbial CO₂ fixation, recent advancements in artificial CO₂ fixation, and strategies for enhancing the efficiency of microbial CO₂ fixation. We also discuss the conversion of CO₂ into diverse metabolic products and high-value chemicals. By identifying efficient carbon fixation pathways for microorganisms, this review aims to lay the foundation for the biological production of high-value chemicals using CO₂ as a raw material.