Govind Tekale
Researchers at Newcastle University have developed a humidity-driven membrane for capturing CO2 from the air, offering a novel approach to carbon capture.
Photo Source- Google
This innovation is designed to enhance Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, improving the efficiency of CO2 separation from the atmosphere.
The membrane leverages natural humidity gradients to pump CO2, eliminating the need for traditional energy inputs such as heat or pressure.
By using humidity as the driving force, this method speeds up the reaction kinetics and significantly lowers energy consumption compared to conventional methods.
The research team utilized X-ray micro-computed tomography to thoroughly analyze the membrane's structure and assess its performance.
The membrane operates by using specialized 'carriers' that transport both CO2 and water, with the process driven by differences in humidity levels.
This technology allows for the concentration of CO2 without relying on external energy sources, setting it apart from previous DAC technologies that required additional energy inputs.
The study was a collaborative effort between researchers from various universities and was published in the prestigious journal Nature Energy.
Future research will focus on optimizing the membrane's composition and design, with the goal of scaling it up for larger, more efficient carbon capture systems.