Scientists at UCLA have developed synthetic crystals that trap gasses like a smart sponge. The crystals are highly selective, allowing them to achieve a 400% improvement in CO2 capture over current technologies.
The crystals are three-dimensional and code information in the same manner as DNA. While not as sophisticated as DNA, the developers consider it a significant advancement in chemistry and materials science.
The scientists hope the technology could be used to capture CO2 from both large sources like power plants, and smaller ones like vehicle tailpipes and smaller factories. The material could also potentially be used to convert CO2 into a fuel.
Ideally, these highly efficient crystals could be used for CO2 capture in lots of different settings while we try to transition to cleaner technologies.
via Treehugger
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written by Rich Beckman, February 16, 2010
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written by Carl Hage, February 16, 2010
This project seems interesting from a chemical engineering point of view, but I don't see that it would be cost-effective as a CO2 absorber. It's much cheaper to use alternatives to digging up and burning fossil fuel.
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written by Eric, February 18, 2010
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written by richard Davine, February 25, 2010
However maybe in the future these crystals could help create diamonds with the sequestered CO2 and we could wear our climate change on our sleeves.
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