Researchers build system to capture carbon dioxide 2x faster

Researchers in Japan have developed a faster way to directly extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Climate Carbon removal | Photo credit: Climeworks

Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a new carbon capture system, which they claim works with 99% efficiency and at a speed at least twice that of previous processes.

The researchers used a reusable compound called Isophorone Diamine (IPDA) to remove more than 99% of carbon dioxide from air in which the concentration of the gas is 400 parts per million (ppm), according to a study published by ACS Environmental Au. Carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere has exceeded the 400 ppm threshold.

The team will now work on how the captured carbon can be used in household or industry products. The tech has “wide implications for carbon capture systems deployed at scale,” noted Eureka Alert.

At present, the world’s largest direct air capture plant removes 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the air annually. Global carbon dioxide emissions hit a record 36.3 billion tons last year.

Carbon capture and storage systems have also been widely criticized for their high energy consumption and costs, with critics noting that focusing on carbon capture will delay the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

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