US scientists give new hope in the battle against lessening the effects of climate change. Their research focuses on creating a new material that absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a report published by Science Daily earlier this week.
The Royal Society of Chemistry has published the research paper on capturing carbon dioxide from air presented by Material Science and Chemistry professors from different faculties at the University of Pittsburgh, and three graduate students.
Their research delves on creating new Metal-Organic Frameworks [MOFs]. It captures only carbon dioxide and leaves out other gases. Their project on Direct Air Capture [DAC] could save the Earth from the dangerous effects of climate change.
The researchers face a difficult task. Direct air capture removes carbon dioxide from the air. Besides carbon dioxide, air comprises other molecules like water. H2O concentration in air is higher than CO2. Both molecules and other gases compete in the air capture. Therefore, the scientists fail to capture large quantity of CO2.
Assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, Katherine Hornbostel says, “Materials good at grabbing carbon dioxide are good at grabbing multiple gases. It is difficult to tune these materials to grab carbon dioxide but nothing else. Our research focuses on this.”
Hornbostel’s co-investigators include Swanson School Chemistry Professor Nathaniel Rosi; Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Associate Professor Christopher E Wilmer; Swanson School Whiteford Faculty Fellow William Kepler; National Energy Technology Laboratory Research Scientist Janice Steckel, and three graduate students Paul Boone, Austin Lieber and Yiwen He.
Material Science experts give Metal Organic Frameworks a high rating. Such materials capture large volumes of gases through porous membranes. Scientists design these materials by computational modelling instead of trial-and-error method.
A core shell in the MOF traps carbon dioxide and blocks other gas molecules like water.
They make the shell and core from different MOF materials. The shell slows down water and the core binds carbon dioxide.
Wilmer gives the example of adhesive to explain the difficult task of absorbing one molecule while blocking others. “An adhesive glues both sides of the surface. It can be hard to come up with something sticky to one material and not sticky to the other material. This is true to the molecular scale. So, when we make a material sticky to carbon dioxide, unintentionally, it is also sticky to water. We are trying to find a way to shield those sticky surfaces from water.”
Currently, the group is using computational modelling to weed through candidates for the best materials for both the MOF's core and shell. Research into direct air capture is in the early stage. Already there are multiple potential uses for this technology.
According to Hornbostel, some experts propose installations in unoccupied places, while others prefer using existing set-ups where steam and electricity are already available. Either way, this technology needs much air to work.
Direct air capture research is still nascent. This technology has the potential for multiple use. Some experts suggest installing these in remote places. Others suggest using existing set-ups where steam and electricity are available.
Researchers have long-term plans for direct air capture in other subjects besides reversing the effects of climate change. This technology can aid in space exploration as well as living on other planets. “When we're on other planets, like Mars, direct air capture will help us get fuel to return to Earth,” says Wilmer.
[Sudeep Sonawane, an India-based journalist, has worked in five countries in the Middle East and Asia. Email: sudeep.sonawane@gmail.com]
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