New device captures carbon dioxide by pumping it across a battery
Summary
Scientists at the University of Delaware have created a new device that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) using a battery-like system. This method uses less energy and could be cheaper than current carbon capture technologies, making it easier to remove CO2 from the air.Key Facts
- The device works by pumping CO2 across a battery through chemical reactions involving hydroxide ions.
- It uses nickel hydroxide electrodes similar to those in rechargeable batteries.
- The system captures CO2 by converting it into carbonate or bicarbonate inside the battery and then releases CO2 gas on the other side.
- A small lab version with nine stacked cells uses 0.8 megawatt-hours of electricity per ton of CO2 captured.
- Current carbon capture from air usually requires 1.5 to 3 megawatt-hours per ton of CO2.
- A startup named RepAir Carbon, involving the researchers, plans to scale this technology and reduce costs.
- Early cost estimates for a pilot plant are about $566 per ton of CO2 captured, potentially dropping to $92 per ton as the technology grows.
- Lower costs around $100 per ton could make carbon capture widely used and more affordable compared to current methods costing $250–$350 per ton.
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