In all planets dazzling greenhouse gas that releases human activity into the environment, carbon dioxide is the most significant discharge. As such, experts suggest that, in addition to drastically decreasing our use of fossil fuel, we should actively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the environment. Known as carbon extraction technology, however, is usually expensive and/or intensive energy, and requires carbon storage solutions.
Today, researchers at Stanford University have suggested a surprising practical approach: make these stones for us.
They are not kidding. Stanford's chemists Matthew right and Yuxuan Chen have developed a process that uses heat to change minerals to materials that absorb CO2 – especially. As detailed in a Study Na -published Wednesday in the journal NatureThe process is practical and inexpensive. In addition, the benefits of Right and Chen's benefits can satisfy the needs of a common agricultural practice, hitting two birds with one stone.
“The world has a unpleasant supply of minerals capable of removing CO2 from the environment, but they not only quickly react to themselves to prevent human gas leaks,” said Right, the older one with – ACTIVITY OF STUDENTS, SAYS A STANFORD statement. “Our work will solve this problem in a way that we think is uniquely measured.”
For decades, scientists have studied ways to accelerate the natural absorption of some CO2 stones, a process called WEATHERING that can take the way -We are not thousands . Right and Chen seem to have cracked the code by converting standard slow weathering minerals called silicates to fast-weathering minerals.
“We thought of a new chemistry to activate inert [not chemically reactive] Silicate minerals through a simple ion-exchange reaction, “Chen explained. The ions are atoms or groups of atoms with electrical charges.” We didn't expect it to work as well. “
Right and Chen are inspired by the manufacture of cement, in which one kilo, or oven, converts lime (a sedimentary rock) into a reactive chemical compound called calcium oxide, which then mixed -halong There is sand. Chemists copied this process, but replaced sand for a material called a magnesium silicate. Magnesium silicate contains two minerals that, with heat, exchanged ions and becomes magnesium oxide and calcium silicate: minerals fast.
“The process acts as a multiplier,” Right said. “You get a reactive mineral, calcium oxide, and a magnesium silicate more or less, and you make two reactive minerals.”
To test their results, Right and Chen were exposed to wet calcium silicate and magnesium oxide in the air. They become carbonate minerals – the result of warming – for weeks to months.
“You can imagine the spread of magnesium oxide and calcium silicate in large areas of the soil to remove CO2 from the surrounding air,” Right said. “One Kapana -exciting application we are trying now is adding them to agricultural land.” This application can also be practical for farmers, which increases calcium carbonate to the soil when it is too acidic: a solution called liming.
“Adding our product will eliminate the need for liming, as both mineral components are alkaline [basic, as opposed to acidic]”Right explained. “In addition, as calcium silicate weathers, it releases silicon into the soil in a form that can take plants, which can improve yield and resilient. Ideally, farmers will pay these minerals because it is very useful They are in the productivity of the farm and the health of the land – and as a bonus, there is a carbon removal.
About a ton of magnesium oxide and calcium silicate can absorb a ton of CO2 from the environment – and estimates accounts for CO2 released by kilos themselves, still require less than half of the energy Used in other carbon acquisition technologies.
The scale of this solution to an affecting level, however, will require millions of tons of magnesium oxide and calcium silicate, year -time. However, Chen points out that if estimates of natural reserves of magnesium silicates such as olivine or snakes are accurate, they are enough to remove all people released by atmospheric CO2, and then some. In addition, silicates can be recovered from mine tailings (mining leftovers).
“Society has learned how to produce billions of tons of cement each year, and cement cement runs for decades,” Rot said. “If we use that learned and design, there is a clear path for how to go from discovery of the lab to the carbon removal of a significant size.”
