A new kind of tree could reduce global warming by removing a major greenhouse gas from the planet's atmosphere. What researchers are calling artificial trees are actually towers filled with various materials that adsorb carbon dioxide from the air. They could play a major role in reducing climate change -- if they prove profitable.
Scientists are proposing that one of the most practical ways to cut greenhouse gases on a large scale is to build a forest of 100,000 artificial trees over the next 10-20 years.
A Columbia University physicist, Dr Klaus Lackner, has developed an artificial tree designed to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air as plants do during photosynthesis, but retain the carbon and not release oxygen. According to him, one artificial tree could remove 90,000 tonnes of CO2 in a year - the emissions equivalent of 15,000 cars. "One artificial tree can suck up to 1,000 times more CO2 from the air than real trees can," he said.
The artificial tree is based on an environmentally friendly alkaline resin which reacts with acidic carbon dioxide thereby holding it in place. After one hour exposure to the air, the resin is completely saturated with CO2. Dry resin soaks up the CO2. Adding water releases the CO2, which is then captured and stored. Drying the resin again restores its abilities, a cycle that can be repeated indefinitely. It is estimated that an artificial tree, containing about 32,800 feet of resin, will harvest about one ton of CO2 each day.
When the first artificial tree is ready, it will cost about $150 for each ton. When the technology is fully mature, the price will be as low as $20
However, there is a stickler of a problem -- "what do you do with all those TONS of CO2 you've Captured?" Global Research Technologies, LLC, the company creating the C02-scrubbing towers plans to sell the purified CO2 to a range of buyers. Oil and natural gas companies are probably the biggest customers for the artificial trees. Another use for the artificial trees would be in the cap-and-trade carbon credit system. The idea is that companies that produce CO2 would pay another company, like GRT, to get rid of it.
This carbon sequestration technology is being considered as a part of the long-term solution as global reliance on fossil fuels will not reduce anytime soon.
Scientists are proposing that one of the most practical ways to cut greenhouse gases on a large scale is to build a forest of 100,000 artificial trees over the next 10-20 years.
A Columbia University physicist, Dr Klaus Lackner, has developed an artificial tree designed to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air as plants do during photosynthesis, but retain the carbon and not release oxygen. According to him, one artificial tree could remove 90,000 tonnes of CO2 in a year - the emissions equivalent of 15,000 cars. "One artificial tree can suck up to 1,000 times more CO2 from the air than real trees can," he said.
The artificial tree is based on an environmentally friendly alkaline resin which reacts with acidic carbon dioxide thereby holding it in place. After one hour exposure to the air, the resin is completely saturated with CO2. Dry resin soaks up the CO2. Adding water releases the CO2, which is then captured and stored. Drying the resin again restores its abilities, a cycle that can be repeated indefinitely. It is estimated that an artificial tree, containing about 32,800 feet of resin, will harvest about one ton of CO2 each day.
When the first artificial tree is ready, it will cost about $150 for each ton. When the technology is fully mature, the price will be as low as $20
However, there is a stickler of a problem -- "what do you do with all those TONS of CO2 you've Captured?" Global Research Technologies, LLC, the company creating the C02-scrubbing towers plans to sell the purified CO2 to a range of buyers. Oil and natural gas companies are probably the biggest customers for the artificial trees. Another use for the artificial trees would be in the cap-and-trade carbon credit system. The idea is that companies that produce CO2 would pay another company, like GRT, to get rid of it.
This carbon sequestration technology is being considered as a part of the long-term solution as global reliance on fossil fuels will not reduce anytime soon.
0 comments:
Post a Comment