Disclosed herein are modified carbonic anhydrase enzymes, and a process of using same for the extraction, production and purification of carbon dioxide gas. More particularly, modified carbonic anhydrase enzymes are used for the production, purification of carbon dioxide and the products of the hydration reaction, hydrogen and bicarbonate ions Also, this technology is used to enhance the production of carbon dioxide in blood or in reverse osmosis desalination to remove carbon dioxide. Specifically, the invention relates to a modified carbonic anhydrase enzyme possessing improved activity and a process whereby immobilized modified carbonic anhydrase contained within a reactor device catalyzes the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide.