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Textile-based Carbon Filters Demonstrate Potential for Carbon Sequestration

Textile researchers at Wilson College are exploring a fabric-based carbon capture technology aimed at curtailing carbon dioxide emissions from power stations.

Researchers at Wilson College of Textiles are exploring a textile-based carbon capture technology,...
Researchers at Wilson College of Textiles are exploring a textile-based carbon capture technology, which potentially lessens carbon dioxide emissions from power stations.

Groundbreaking Textile-Based Carbon Capture Technology: A New Hope

Textile-based Carbon Filters Demonstrate Potential for Carbon Sequestration

There's some exciting news coming from North Carolina State University (NCSU). Researchers at the university have developed an innovative solution to combat the ongoing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions crisis: a textile-based filter that traps CO2 at promising rates. This new technology combines the power of a natural enzyme called carbonic anhydrase — known for its role in speeding up chemical reactions in nature — and humble cotton fabric.

According to Jialong Shen, the study's lead author and a postdoctoral research scholar at NCSU, the team aimed to "stop CO2 emissions at the source, and power plants are the main source of CO2 emissions right now." The researchers believed that their method could offers a significant advantage over similar projects due to its scalability, which is made possible by leveraging traditional textile manufacturing facilities.

Central to the research team's design for a proposed textile-based chemical filter is the carbonic anhydrase enzyme, which speeds up a reaction that converts CO2 and water into bicarbonate (a compound found in baking soda). This process is crucial for human respiration, as it aids in the transportation and exhalation of CO2.

The researchers attached the enzyme to a two-layer cotton fabric by immersing it in a solution containing chitosan, creating a glue-like substance binding the enzyme to the fabric. They then ran a series of tests to determine the filter's efficiency in separating CO2 from an air mixture containing carbon dioxide and nitrogen, simulating emissions from power plants.

When they pushed air through the filter at a rate of 4 liters per minute, they captured 52.3% of CO2 with a single-stacked filter and 81.7% with a double-stacked filter. Although these findings are promising, further tests are needed to evaluate the filter's performance under the faster airflow rates utilized in commercial power plants.

Study co-author Sonja Salmon, an associate professor of textile engineering, chemistry, and science at NCSU, was pleased with the team's progress, stating, "We've made very significant progress." They also tested the filter's durability after five cycles of washing, drying, and storage, where it managed to maintain its performance.

While capturing CO2 is a crucial initial step, the researchers are also working to address the challenges of recycling the liquid after it exits the filter and conversion of bicarbonate back into CO2 for storage or commercial use. They aim to regenerate the solvent used in the filter repeatedly to reduce energy consumption.

In conclusion, this carbon capture system holds the potential to drive down costs and boost adoption, providing a significant step forward in the battle against climate change. The researchers are excited to continue their work and share their progress as the story unfolds.

Note to Editors:

The abstract of the study, "Carbonic Anhydrase Immobilized on Textile Structured Packing Using Chitosan Entrapment for CO2 Capture," can be found below.

Abstract:

Authors: Jialong Shen, Yue Yuan, and Sonja Salmon.

Publishedin ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering on June 1, 2022.

DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c02545

This textile-based carbon capture technology demonstrates a promising step in the development of a potentially game-changing innovation in carbon capture technology. By utilizing a sustainable, readily available, and versatile combination of polymers (cellulose and chitosan) and the carbonic anhydrase enzyme, the researchers aim to develop a system that can be easily scaled up using traditional textile manufacturing facilities, offering a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution to capture CO2 emissions at a commercially viable scale. The system's ability to maintain enzyme activity during repeated use and its impressive CO2 capture efficiency hold significant potential in combating climate change.

  1. The carbon capture technology developed by researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU) leverages traditional textile manufacturing facilities for scalability, a crucial advantage over similar projects in the industry.
  2. The design of the proposed textile-based chemical filter integrates the carbonic anhydrase enzyme, which is known for speeding up chemical reactions in nature and converts CO2 and water into bicarbonate.
  3. The researchers attached the enzyme to a two-layer cotton fabric using chitosan, aiming to combat carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at the source, particularly from power plants.
  4. In tests, the filter captured 52.3% of CO2 with a single-stacked filter and 81.7% with a double-stacked filter when pushed air through at a rate of 4 liters per minute.
  5. The researchers are also addressing the challenges of recycling the liquid after it exits the filter and converting bicarbonate back into CO2 for storage or commercial use, aiming to regenerate the solvent used in the filter repeatedly to reduce energy consumption.
  6. This carbon capture system, if successful, could drive down costs and boost adoption, providing a significant step forward in the battle against climate change in the environmental-science and renewable-energy sectors.
  7. The study, "Carbonic Anhydrase Immobilized on Textile Structured Packing Using Chitosan Entrapment for CO2 Capture," highlights the potential of this game-changing innovation in carbon capture technology, published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering on June 1, 2022.
  8. The study's lead author, Jialong Shen, and study co-author Sonja Salmon expressed optimism, stating that they've made very significant progress and are excited to continue their work and share their progress.
  9. It's essential to mitigate CO2 emissions to combat climate change, and this textile-based carbon capture technology offers a sustainable and energy-efficient solution, integrating chemistry, materials, and engineering for a more sustainable future.
  10. The finance sector plays a critical role in supporting new technologies like this, helping to drive investments in research, development, and the role in carbon capture technology towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

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