Carbon dioxide from exhaust can now be used to make new chemicals

fahrertuer

To limit climate change, most governments focus on reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) put into the atmosphere. But there are indications that such action won’t be enough—at some point, we will need to actively remove CO₂ from the air.

The removal of CO₂ is a big challenge, as it will require large amounts of renewable energy. For now, attention has focused on removing CO₂ from the exhaust of fossil fuel power plants, where it’s present in higher concentrations. Typically, that CO₂ is destined for carbon capture and storage (CCS), but another option is to skip the storage part—new research from Korea shows that it’s possible to take CO₂ directly from exhaust gases and make new chemicals.

Catch me if you can

CO₂ from an exhaust gas stream is often captured by nitrogen-containing compounds called amines. The reaction is reversible, as the products can be heated, allowing the CO₂ to be released. The gas can then be compressed, transported, and stored in geological features, such as depleted oil fields, or used as raw material in chemical factories.