CO2 isn’t just a molecule, a by-product, or a greenhouse gas; it’s the essential molecule vehicle for moving carbon around in its depleted state. It’s part of a regenerative cycle, a fundamental aspect of our planet’s energy and material balance—various ecological and geological systems cycle carbon dioxide through natural processes. It’s latent potential, the future form of life, and a valuable molecule for most things we consume and use on Earth.
One of the most crucial carbon cycles is the biological cycle. In this cycle plants, using a bio-catalyzed process known as photosynthesis, converts CO2 from the air, water and sunlight energy into more complex energized carbon molecules that we observe in the familiar form of plant leaves, stalks, flowers and fruits. When this “biomass” is consumed (i.e. eaten, burned, or decomposed), chemical bonds are broken, energy is released, and the carbon is oxidized, leaving CO2 released into the air. This process repeats endlessly, forming a continuous loop and powered by sunlight. Understanding the presence of CO2 in the world is just the beginning of a much bigger story.
To read the full article, head over to carboncapturemagazine.com where it originally published in October 2024, penned by our very own Todd Brix.
