Carbon dioxide capture technology
The authors say that this novel approach to carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture technology from the atmosphere is up to three times more efficient than current methods.
The warming gas can be transformed into bicarbonate of soda and stored safely and cheaply in seawater. The new method could speed up the deployment of carbon removal technology, experts say.
The climate world has struggled to limit and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide in recent decades; several companies have instead focused on developing technology to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
Climate Change & Carbon dioxide capture technology
UK costs from flood damage could rise by 20%. Attenborough shows us our own ‘spectacular’ nature. A historic ocean treaty was agreed upon after a decade of talks. ClimeWorks in Switzerland is perhaps the best known. Over the past ten years it has developed machines to suck in the air from the atmosphere that filter and trap the carbon dioxide molecules.
At a plant in Iceland, the captured CO₂ is injected deep underground, where it is permanently turned into stone. The company has recently started selling a certified carbon removal service to large corporate clients, including Microsoft, Spotify, and Stripe.
However, one big problem for most current approaches to direct air capture is cost. CO₂, although a powerful warming agent, is relatively diluted in the atmosphere at around 400 parts per million (ppm) in air. So big machines that require large amounts of energy are needed to both absorb and discharge the CO₂..
CO₂ Capture from Air
This new approach, using off-the-shelf resins and other chemicals, promises far greater efficiency and lower cost, say the scientists involved. The research team has borrowed an approach used for applications in water and “tweaked” existing materials to remove CO₂ from the air. In tests, the new hybrid absorbing material was able to take in three times as much CO₂ as existing substances. To my knowledge, there is no absorbing material that even at 100,000 ppm shows the capacity we get it in direct air capture of 400 ppm,” said lead author Prof. Arup SenGupta from Lehigh University in the US.
“This simple ability to capture CO₂ in a high quantity, in a small volume of material, is a unique aspect of our work.” The development, while in its early stages, has been welcomed by others in the field.
“I am happy to see this paper in the published literature; it is very exciting, and it stands a good chance of transforming the CO₂ capture efforts.” Said Prof. Catherine Peters from Princeton University, an expert in geological engineering, who wasn’t involved in the research project.
“What is clever about this is that the starting point was a technology previously designed for applications in water. This advance applies this technology to the gas phase—a new idea.” “The demonstrated performance for CO₂ capture is promising.” One of the big challenges in capturing CO₂ is what to do with the trapped gas.
Storage of CO₂ & Carbon dioxide capture technology
Storing it under the ground or sea in former oil wells is one widely used approach. But the new paper suggests that with the addition of some chemicals, the captured CO₂ can be transformed into bicarbonate of soda and stored simply and safely in seawater.
Dr. SenGupta says he now wants to establish a spin-off company to develop the technology further.
He believes that removing CO₂ in this way will not only be critical to limiting the rise in global temperatures but also But it could also be directly empowering for developing countries.
“We have to take it to places like Bangladesh, Barbados, or the Maldives. Because they also have a role to play, they cannot be just bystanders who keep suffering.”
Some scientists are reluctant to put too much emphasis on new and emerging technologies. Because they like direct air capture, they fear that it could dilute the carbon-cutting efforts of governments and individuals.
But the temperature thresholds of the Paris climate agreement are under threat from rising emissions. However, many others feel that the rapid deployment of direct air capture in addition to massive cuts in carbon is the best hope of avoiding dangerous climate change.
Tree Plantation for Absorption of CO₂ Natural method for Carbon dioxide capture technology
Planting trees or preserving existing forests is likely to also be a critical way to absorb CO₂. “The best example of CO₂ carbon dioxide removal technology that we know how to do is However, now is to grow more forests and to protect the carbon content of soils,” says Field. “And those are technologies that we know how to do now that provide extensive co-benefits and are ripe for taking advantage of.”
Direct air capture plants have some advantages that could make them an important part of the solution as well. The CO2 capture plant is roughly a thousand times more efficient than photosynthesis.
“It has become even more important now that we are definitely in an overshoot regime. Where we have to take carbon back from the environment,” said Prof. Klaus Lackner, a pioneer in the field of removing CO₂..
Direct Air Capture CO₂ from the Environment
“DAC will have to get cheaper to make a useful contribution. I am optimistic that it can do this.”
Professor SenGupta shares that optimism, believing that this new approach can remove CO₂ for less than $100 a tonne.
The research has been published in the journal Science Advances.