A new idea for extracting CO2 from the air is showing promise

Scientists have outlined a new method of extracting carbon dioxide from the air and storing it in the sea. The authors claim that this new approach captures CO2 from the atmosphere up to three times more efficiently than current methods. The warming gas can be converted into baking soda and stored safely and cheaply in seawater. According to experts, the new method could accelerate the deployment of carbon removal technology. At a plant in Iceland, the captured CO2 is injected deep underground, where it is permanently turned into stone. The company recently began selling a certified carbon removal service to large corporate clients including Microsoft, Spotify and Stripe. However, one of the big problems with most current approaches to direct air capture is cost. CO2, although a powerful warming agent, is relatively diluted in the atmosphere, its concentration in the air being about 400 parts per million (ppm). Thus, both absorption and emission of CO2 require large devices that require a large amount of energy. This new approach, using off-the-shelf resins and other chemicals, promises much higher efficiency and lower costs, say the scientists involved. Borrowing an approach used for applications in water, the research team "modified" existing materials to remove CO2 from the air. In tests, the new hybrid absorbent material was able to absorb three times more CO2 than existing substances.