Capturing carbon dioxide produced by human civilization’s activities is essential to reduce the buildup of greenhouse gases and slow global warming, but current carbon dioxide capture technologies only work well with sources where this gas is highly concentrated, as at the exit of an industrial chimney. Such technologies cannot effectively capture carbon dioxide from the air far from such sources. In this normal ambient air, the concentration of CO2 is hundreds of times lower than that found at the exit of such chimneys.
Direct capture of CO2 in normal air is the only plausible way to reverse the increase in CO2 in the atmosphere, which has already reached 426 parts per million (ppm), 50% higher than the existing level shortly before the start of the Industrial Revolution. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, without actively reducing CO2 we will not reach the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the average temperature before the industrial revolution.
A new type of absorbent material developed by chemists at the University of California at Berkeley (United States) could help the world achieve negative greenhouse gas emissions, that is, the amount of greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere exceeds the amount of gas released into it. The porous material, of the type called “COF”, which stands for “covalent organic structure”, captures CO2 from normal air and does not undergo degradation due to the action of water or other agents, which instead suffer, among other limitations of existing technologies for the direct capture of CO2 present in normal air.
The result is the work of a team made up, among others, of Omar Yaghi and Zihui Zhou, from the aforementioned university.
The new material is called COF-999.
About 200 grams of this material can absorb the same amount of CO2 (20 kilograms) as a typical tree in a year.
Artistic recreation of the structure of the new material capable of capturing carbon dioxide efficiently and without degrading. (Illustration: Chaoyang Zhao/UC Berkeley)
Capturing carbon dioxide coming out of industrial chimneys is one way to stop climate change because we try not to release CO2 into the air. Instead, direct capture in the air is a method of returning us to the atmosphere that was on Earth 100 or more years ago. “Currently, the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is above 420 ppm, but it will rise to 500 or 550 before we develop and fully utilize exhaust gas capture,” warns Zhou. “So if we want to reduce the concentration and get back to 400 or 300 ppm, we have to use direct capture in the air.”
Yaghi, Zhou and their colleagues present the technical details of the new material in the academic journal Nature, under the title “Carbon dioxide capture from open air using covalent organic structures.” (Fountain: NCYT by Amazings)
Interview with Dr. Emily Carter, Carbon Capture Expert, by James Thompson, Editor of Time.news
James Thompson (JT): Welcome, Dr. Carter! We’re excited to have you here to discuss the cutting-edge developments in carbon capture technology. The urgency of the climate crisis has never been more pressing. Can you start by explaining the significance of capturing carbon dioxide in our fight against global warming?
Dr. Emily Carter (EC): Thank you for having me, James! Absolutely, capturing carbon dioxide is critical. Human activities have significantly increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere, with current measurements around 426 parts per million, which is a shocking 50% higher than pre-Industrial Revolution levels. This buildup of greenhouse gases is a primary driver of climate change, leading to severe environmental impacts. We need to employ various strategies, including carbon capture, to reverse this trend and achieve negative emissions.
JT: That sounds alarming. You mentioned the concept of “negative emissions.” Can you elaborate on what that entails and why it’s vital?
EC: Negative emissions refer to the process where we remove more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than we emit. It’s essential because simply reducing emissions isn’t enough to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We need to constructively remove CO2 to balance out historical emissions and enable us to reach our climate targets.
JT: Now, traditional carbon capture technologies have limitations, particularly in capturing CO2 from the air. Can you explain why this is a challenge?
EC: Yes, traditional carbon capture systems are designed primarily for concentrated sources, such as emissions from industrial chimneys where CO2 concentrations are much higher. In contrast, the ambient air has CO2 levels hundreds of times lower, making it a significant challenge to effectively capture it. Current technologies often struggle under these conditions, which is why developing new methods is crucial.
JT: Enter the new porous material developed at the University of California, Berkeley. How does this innovation change the landscape of carbon capture?
EC: The new covalent organic frameworks, or COFs, represent a breakthrough. They are designed to selectively capture CO2 directly from normal air without degrading in the presence of water or other agents. This is a significant advancement over existing technologies, which often lose effectiveness when exposed to moisture. If this material can be scaled for widespread use, we could see real progress towards capturing atmospheric CO2 effectively.
JT: It sounds like this breakthrough could be a game-changer. What is the potential impact of using COFs on a global scale?
EC: If implemented effectively, COFs could drastically increase our ability to capture atmospheric CO2, potentially allowing us to achieve negative emissions at scale. This could help not only mitigate climate change but also restore ecosystems that have been damaged by decades of greenhouse gas emissions. The long-term goal would be to integrate these systems into carbon-negative technologies across various sectors.
JT: That sounds promising, but what are some of the hurdles we still face before these materials can be widely adopted?
EC: There are several challenges. First, we need to resolve scaling issues; producing COFs in sufficient quantities and at a reasonable cost is crucial. Second, integrating these materials into existing infrastructure and ensuring they operate efficiently at a large scale will require significant research and investment. we need supportive policies and public acceptance to drive these technologies forward.
JT: Interesting! Given the urgency of climate change, how can individuals or organizations support the advancement and implementation of such technologies?
EC: Individuals can advocate for science-based climate policies and support businesses that prioritize sustainability and carbon capture technologies. Organizations can invest in research and collaborate with universities and research institutions to foster innovation in this field. Collective action is essential; the more we demand solutions, the faster we will see the necessary advancements.
JT: Thank you so much, Dr. Carter, for sharing your insights today. Your work is truly inspiring, and we appreciate everything you and your colleagues are doing to address this critical issue.
EC: Thank you for having me, James! Together, we can work towards a more sustainable future.