Under extreme conditions, bacteria may assist in converting CO2 into rock formations

Bacteria may be able to promote carbon dioxide lithification under extreme conditions. Injecting such microorganisms underground with recovered carbon dioxide could potentially store greenhouse gases more durablely.

Gokce Ustunisk Colleagues stranded at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology geobacillus A bacterial species collected from a compost pile in Washington state that was known to withstand high temperatures and pressures.

In laboratory tests, the researchers compared the rate of mineralization of CO2 when it was dissolved.