Introduction to Carbon Sequestration
Until clean energies like solar, wind, or green hydrogen become widely used, we need a plan to reduce environmental damage. This involves strategies such as using bacteria to clean up oil spills or methods like mineralization to capture carbon. One of the newest ways to capture carbon is a special fabric developed by the University of North Carolina, which also produces a substance we use every day. This fabric can eliminate more than 80% of the CO2 generated.
A Cotton Filter for Carbon Sequestration
A team of U.S. scientists created a passive technology that doesn’t require energy. They developed a filter that can be easily installed, using a cotton textile with a unique feature: it utilizes carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme found in living organisms. This enzyme helps transport carbon dioxide in the blood or carry out photosynthesis in plants.
The Development Process
The development stages included:
- Using a double-layer cotton fabric soaked in a chitosan solution, an extract from crustacean shells that has absorbent effects.
- Adding carbonic anhydrase enzyme, which remained attached to the chitosan.
- Simulating an environment similar to a thermal power plant with a jet of air containing carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
- Rolling the material into a tube through which air mixed with a water-based solution was passed.
- Converting carbon dioxide to bicarbonate upon reaction with water and anhydrase.
Results and Scalability
The results were encouraging, with a double filter removing up to 81.7% of the carbon dioxide at a flow rate of four liters per minute. Although the amount of water used is far from a real industrial environment, the scientists believe their method is scalable and will have commercial applications in fighting climate change. The filters also maintained their properties after five washing cycles.
Challenges and Future Directions
Another issue to be resolved is recycling the water solution with which the gas is mixed once it has passed through the filter. The goal is to make this part of the process energy-efficient as well.
The Magic of Carbonic Anhydrase
Carbonic anhydrase is described as a "wonderful" enzyme with numerous applications, including medicine and construction. It’s being explored for use in self-repairing bioconcrete, offering a new method for carbon sequestration. The enzyme reacts with carbon dioxide and converts it into calcium carbonate (or bicarbonate), allowing cracks in concrete to be sealed while removing carbon dioxide.
Conclusion
The development of this cotton filter is a significant step towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions. With its potential for scalability and commercial application, it offers a promising solution in the fight against climate change. As research continues to explore new methods for carbon sequestration, innovations like this filter and the use of carbonic anhydrase bring us closer to a more sustainable future. For more information on carbon sequestration methods, including artificial photosynthesis and prototype tires with moss, further reading is recommended.
