The international research team created an ultra-porous solution that can absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. This liquid prevents the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, which is released when we burn fossil fuels, from reaching the atmosphere, warming our planet, and causing damage to our oceans. In Nature, peer-reviewed journal Nature, scientists from Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering and colleagues from France, Argentina and the UK explained how they developed an amazing liquid that dissolves gas in surprising quantities. They explained that tiny holes in the liquid they created absorb gas. This could be our holy grail in carbon capture. Image: Queen’s University Belfast. Protecting the environment from CO2 emissions. Professor Stuart James is a researcher in mechanochemical and synthesis. He believes that the 3-year-long scientific project will lead to more effective and sustainable processes, such as trapping CO2 from fossil fuel burning before it enters the atmosphere. Professor James stated that materials with permanent holes or pores are important technologically. These materials are useful for making a variety of products, including plastic bottles and petrol. These porous materials were previously solids. This is the first step in understanding this material. The results show interesting long-term uses that rely on gas dissolution. The major greenhouse gas CO2 is. Global warming has been caused by the dramatic increase in CO2 concentration from the burning of carbon-based fuels. Because it is dissolved in water, carbonic acid can also be a major cause of ocean acidification. Scientists have demonstrated a new principle by making tiny holes in liquid trap gases. This allows them to dramatically increase the gas that can be dissolved. Professor James said that these remarkable properties could have interesting long-term applications. The Queen’s University Belfast led the study, which involved scientists from Queen’s University Belfast and colleagues from Germany’s Universitat de Cuyo (Argentina), France’s Universite Blaise, Liverpool, England, Germany’s University of Liverpool, Germany and Germany’s Universitat de Kiel. Leverhulme Trust funded the scientific project. The Engineering Physical Science Research Council, Britain’s primary agency funding engineering research and physical sciences in Britain, also supported the research. Refer to: “Liquids that have permanent porosity,” Klaus Ratzke and Nicola Giri. Nature 216-220. 12 November, 2015. DOI: 10.1038/nature16072. Video: Porous liquid absorb gas. This video is part of the scientific research done by Professor James and his team.
A new ultra-porous fluid may offer carbon capture solutions
