While carbon capture is often viewed as a diversion from the crucial task of reducing emissions, many climate scientists argue that it’s an essential strategy for stabilizing our planet’s climate. The question that arises then is – can a novel material aid in this task?
A team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, propose a potential solution. They have developed a porous substance, a ‘covalent organic framework’ capable of absorbing CO2 straight from the air around us. According to their research, just 200 grams of this material can absorb as much carbon in a year as an average tree.
Professor Omar Yaghi, a chemistry professor at the university, explains the testing process: “We took a powder of this material, put it in a tube, and introduced outdoor air from Berkeley into the material to test its performance. The result was impressive – it completely cleaned the air of CO2.” Yaghi’s excitement about the material’s performance is palpable, as he asserts, “there’s nothing like it out there in terms of performance. It significantly advances our efforts to address the climate problem.”
While the plan is to produce this carbon-capturing substance at a large scale, it’s important to note that direct air capture technology, which involves processing massive volumes of air, is still energy-intensive. Despite the positive reception of Berkeley’s breakthrough in the scientific community, there’s still a strong emphasis on the urgent need for substantial cuts in emissions.
Image Credit: University of California, Berkeley
