Peptoids useful for catalyzing the mineralization of calcium carbonate

1. A bio-mimetic polymer capable of catalyzing CO 2 into a carbonate, wherein the bio-mimetic polymer is an amphiphilic peptoid, wherein each monomeric residue of the peptoid comprises a hydrophobic or hydrophilic N-substituent, wherein the hydrophobic N-substituent is —(CH 2 ) 2 —C 6 H 5 , —(CH 2 ) 2 —C 6 H 4 —X, or —(CH 2 ) 2 —C 6 H 4 —O—CH 3 , wherein X is F, Br, Cl, or I; wherein the benzene is para-, ortho- or meta-disubstituted, and the hydrophilic N-substituent comprises a carboxylic acid, sulfate, sulfonate, phosphate, or phosphonate group, wherein the peptoid comprises two or more hydrophobic N-substituents which are grouped together on consecutive monomeric residues, and wherein the peptoid comprises two or more hydrophilic N-substituents which are grouped together on consecutive monomeric residues.

2. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 1 , wherein the peptoid is peptoid-1, peptoid-2, peptoid-3, or peptoid-10.

3. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 1 , wherein the peptoid has a molecular weight from about 1600 g/mol to about 2400 g/mol.

4. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 3 , wherein the peptoid has a molecular weight from about 1690 g/mol to about 2350 g/mol.

5. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 1 , wherein the bio-mimetic polymer is capable of accelerating the process of formation of carbonate from CO 2 equal to or more than ten-fold, when compared to the formation of carbonate from CO 2 in the absence of the bio-mimetic polymer.

6. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 5 , wherein the bio-mimetic polymer is capable of accelerating the process of formation of carbonate from CO 2 equal to or more than 20-fold, when compared to the formation of carbonate from CO 2 in the absence of the bio-mimetic polymer.

7. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 6 , wherein the bio-mimetic polymer is capable of accelerating the process of formation of carbonate from CO 2 equal to or more than 40-fold, when compared to the formation of carbonate from CO 2 in the absence of the bio-mimetic polymer.

8. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 1 , wherein the peptoid comprises from 4 to 100 monomeric residues.

9. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 1 , wherein the peptoid comprises from 4 to 20 monomeric residues.

10. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 9 , wherein the peptoid comprises from 6 to 20 monomeric residues.

11. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 10 , wherein the peptoid comprises from 6 to 18 monomeric residues.

12. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 11 , wherein the peptoid comprises from 12 to 16 monomeric residues.

13. The bio-mimetic polymer of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic N-substituent comprises a —(CH 2 ) 2 —COOH.

14. A method for sequestering carbon dioxide, comprising:

(a) providing the bio-mimetic polymer of claim 1 , and

(b) contacting the bio-mimetic polymer with a carbon dioxide, such that a carbonate is formed.

15. The method of claim 14 , the carbonate is CaCO 3 .