Top Menu

Breakthrough in Scrubbing Carbon Dioxide from the Air

By Pennell Paugh

Los Angeles Air Pollution by Magazine.ucla.edu

CO2 scrubbers have been developed but so far, all have been prohibitively expensive. The Journal of the American Chemical Society reports that researchers at the University of Southern California’s Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute have developed an extraction method that has achieved some of the highest rates ever reported for removing carbon dioxide from the air. The method, which is low-cost and simple, involves use of a plastic-like substance dispersed in a sandy material called fumed silica. The technique allows the carbon dioxide to be used for recycling or to be isolated from the environment.

One the study’s researchers claims fumed silica is cheap to produce and can be used multiple times without losing efficiency. They claim the technique is more energy efficient and more chemically stable than existing extraction devices. The technique is expected to be released in the next 3 to 5 years.

Source

Voice of America, “New Discovery Promises Efficient Way to Recycle Carbon Dioxide Pollution,” (January 06, 2012). Taken from:http://www.voanews.com/english/news/-New-Discovery-Promises-Efficient-Way-to-Recycle-Carbon-Dioxide-Pollution-136861468.html

 

, , ,

2 Responses to Breakthrough in Scrubbing Carbon Dioxide from the Air

  1. Philip Haddad February 12, 2012 at 6:13 pm #

    When will people realize that CO2 is not the cause of global warming? Heat produced from our energy use is the cause. CO2 is valuable in cooling by photosynthesis and of little consequence in increasing the capture of heat at levels of 390 ppm. Our energy consumption is 16TW and projected to go many times higher. The geothermal heat flow is 44TW. The additional 16TW will raise the temperature by 2*F. at equilibrium. Get your focus on heat or we will have nuclear power rammed down our throats

    • pennypaugh March 3, 2012 at 6:51 am #

      I checked with one of our meteorologists and he stated that greenhouse gases are the cause of warming. Watch our blog, we provide informational pieces about the weather.