Scientists Discover More Efficient Method of Carbon Dioxide Removal

Scientists have proposed a new method to extract carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and store it safely and inexpensively in seawater. According to the researchers, this novel approach captures the warming gas up to three times more efficiently than current methods. The new technology could speed up the deployment of carbon removal technology, which could be critical in limiting the rise in global temperatures.

The technology, developed by a team from Lehigh University in the US, involves using off-the-shelf resins and other chemicals to remove CO₂ from the air. In tests, the new hybrid absorbing material was able to extract three times as much CO₂ as existing substances.

According to lead author Prof Arup Sengupta, the approach is simple yet unique, as it can capture CO₂ at a high quantity in a small volume of material. He also highlighted the technology’s potential to be used in developing countries, stating that removing CO₂ in this way could not only be critical to limiting the rise in global temperatures but also directly empowering those countries.

Storing the captured CO₂ is another significant challenge in direct air capture. While storing it under the ground or sea in former oil wells is a widely used approach, the researchers suggest that the captured CO₂ can be transformed into bicarbonate of soda with the addition of some chemicals, and stored safely and cheaply in seawater.

While several companies have focused on developing technology to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, the cost of most direct air capture approaches has been a significant concern. CO₂ is relatively diluted in the atmosphere at around 400 parts per million (ppm) in air, requiring large machines that consume significant amounts of energy to absorb and discharge the CO₂.

The researchers claim that their new approach is promising in terms of its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Professor Catherine Peters from Princeton University, an expert in geological engineering, described the development as exciting and transformative.

The research team’s work has been published in the journal Science Advances. The authors hope that the new method could contribute to reducing the global temperature increase to levels agreed upon in the Paris climate agreement.

While some scientists are hesitant to focus on new and emerging technologies like direct air capture, many others believe that the rapid deployment of these technologies, coupled with massive cuts in carbon, is the best hope of avoiding dangerous climate change. Professor Klaus Lackner, a pioneer in the field of removing CO₂, believes that direct air capture must become cheaper to make a useful contribution to mitigating climate change. Nevertheless, he is optimistic that it can do so, echoing Professor Sengupta’s belief that the new approach can remove CO₂ for less than $100 per tonne.

The new technology developed by the Lehigh University team represents a promising development in the field of direct air capture. By capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it safely and inexpensively in seawater, the technology could help limit the rise in global temperatures and empower developing countries. While there are challenges in implementing the technology, many experts believe that direct air capture will be crucial in mitigating climate change and achieving the Paris climate agreement’s goals.