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Story tips: Beneath the skin, crustacean-inspired cotton, automating clean water, samples in space and capturing furnace emissions

Researchers analyzed skin cell data to identify gene expression patterns responsible for inflammation in atopic dermatitis. Crustacean-inspired cotton was found to control water flow through a special wicking mechanism. Autonomous water treatment systems were also developed to improve energy efficiency and waste reduction.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2022

Computing carbon storage

A University of Texas researcher used supercomputers to understand how CO₂ storage works at the level of micrometer-wide pores in rock, finding that wettability and injection rate are crucial factors. Her research aims to optimize CO₂ storage for a large-scale transition away from fossil fuels.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalInternational Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 10, 2022

Stanford engineers create catalyst that can turn carbon dioxide into gasoline 1,000 times more efficiently

Researchers at Stanford University have created a new catalyst that can convert carbon dioxide into gasoline up to 1,000 times more efficiently than existing standards. The breakthrough allows for the production of long-chain hydrocarbons, making it easier to handle and store, with potential applications in a carbon-neutral cycle.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2022

Decarbonisation tech instantly converts CO2 to solid carbon

Researchers at RMIT University have developed a smart and super-efficient way of capturing carbon dioxide and converting it to solid carbon, which can be integrated into existing industrial processes. The technology offers a pathway for instantly converting CO2 as it is produced, locking it permanently in a solid state.

SourceRMIT University·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateJan 18, 2022

Safer carbon capture and storage

Researchers from the University of Oxford investigated the behavior of CO2 within a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir in Louisiana, USA. They found that up to 74% of CO2 was dissolved in groundwater, while microbial methanogenesis converted 13-19% of the injected CO2 to methane.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 29, 2021

Towards carbon neutrality: New synthesis method yields superior membrane for carbon capture and storage

Researchers from Japan have developed a new method to synthesize a pure Si-CHA membrane showing much higher CO2 separation performance than existing membranes. The key to this achievement is using a porous silica substrate instead of alumina, eliminating problems with pore size reduction and improving efficiency.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalMembranes·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2021

A rocky fate for greenhouse gases

Researchers used synchrotron X-ray scattering and quantum computer modeling to investigate temperature's impact on amorphous magnesium carbonate. The findings suggest that modifying the precursor material's physical properties can help create more efficient carbon capture technologies.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 29, 2021

Life cycle assessment of carbon capture

A life cycle assessment of carbon capture at Amager Bakke incineration plant reveals that the technology reduces CO2 emissions from incineration but decreases electricity production by 50%. The overall net energy efficiency is not affected, but heat output increases by 20%.

SourceTechnical University of Denmark·JournalWaste Management & Research The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy·DateNov 9, 2021

Urgent action needed to reduce uncertainty on CO2 storage prospects

Researchers at Princeton University urge for increased policy support and investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) to reduce energy sector emissions. Current storage capacity is insufficient to meet ambitious decarbonization targets, highlighting the need for strategic planning and characterization capabilities.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 28, 2021

Industry must prepare now for a new world of green electricity

The University of Leeds research highlights the need for industry to adopt new technologies that can manufacture materials using renewable electricity. This is crucial to achieving net zero emissions targets by 2050, as current steel and aluminium manufacturing capacities pose a significant barrier to this goal.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalCurrent Opinion in Environmental Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 27, 2021

A concrete solution

A new kind of concrete made from recycled waste materials could significantly reduce the industry's carbon footprint. The calcium carbonate concrete uses captured carbon dioxide and discarded concrete to create a durable and versatile building material.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalJournal of Advanced Concrete Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 7, 2021

New tool for energy sector models carbon capture incentives

A new model, developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers, identifies coal- and natural gas-fired electricity generation plants suitable for carbon capture technologies. The tool takes into account various factors like plant age, efficiency, location, and technology to explore optimal CO2 reduction strategies at an affordable cost.

SourceCollege of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University·JournalInternational Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control·DateOct 5, 2021

Survival strategy of starving spruces trees: The critical role of reserves

Trees continue to form reserves even during long periods of starvation, contrary to the assumption that they only form when photosynthetic conditions are favorable. As CO2 starvation progresses, trees stabilize their reserve levels and divert resources to storage, allowing them to survive climate extremes.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 23, 2021

The challenge of capturing carbon

Current carbon capture technologies require significant energy output, making them less than optimal. Researchers are working on developing more efficient methods using solid sorbents and membranes, which already show promise in concentrated CO2 emissions sites.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJul 21, 2021

Passing the acid test: New low-pH system recycles more carbon into valuable products

Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a new electrochemical system that converts more than 50% of CO2 into valuable products. The system runs under acidic conditions, which reduces undesired side reactions and enhances efficiency, making it an economically viable solution for carbon capture and utilization.

Climate action potential in waste incineration plants

Researchers at ETH Zurich calculate that waste incineration plants in Europe have a significant potential for negative emissions through bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). If fully exploited, BECCS could reduce European CO2 emissions by 200 million tonnes per year.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateMay 4, 2021

Why commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work

A recent study by University of California San Diego researchers identified 12 essential attributes that explain why commercial carbon capture and sequestration projects succeed or fail in the US. The credibility of revenues and incentives is crucial, with policies like the 45Q tax credit providing a guaranteed revenue stream.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 22, 2021

Cheaper carbon capture is on the way

A new solvent, EEMPA, has been developed that captures carbon dioxide at a cost of $47.10 per metric ton, surpassing commercial technology's $58.30 per metric ton. The solvent is water-lean and 99% less viscous than previous formulations, allowing it to be easily applied in existing capture systems.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalInternational Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control·DateMar 11, 2021