Waste plastics will be used to capture carbon dioxide

Environmental pollution is becoming a more serious problem day by day. A new method developed provides a solution to both plastic waste and tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The method involves using plastic waste to absorb carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide capture with waste plastics

Rice University scientists have developed a new technique to convert waste plastic into an effective carbon dioxide sorbent for industry. The team produced particles with nanometer-scale pores that trap carbon dioxide molecules by heating plastic waste in the presence of potassium acetate.

The researchers say the particles produced can hold up to 18% of their own weight in carbon dioxide at room temperature. When the material is heated to approximately 75°C, carbon dioxide trapped in the pores is released and approximately 90% of the previous pores can be reused.

The lead author of the study, Prof. James Tour: “Point sources of carbon dioxide emissions, such as power plant exhaust chimneys, can be equipped with this waste plastic-derived material to remove the enormous amounts of carbon dioxide that would normally fill the atmosphere. That’s great at tackling one problem, plastic waste, another problem, carbon dioxide emissions,” said James Tour. one way.” found the statements

The team estimates that using the material they produce to capture carbon dioxide from flue gas streams will cost around $21 per tonne. This is much cheaper than the commonly used energy-intensive, amine-based process that costs $80-160 per ton.