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In the race to combat climate change, capturing carbon dioxide (CO
2
) emissions has been touted as a simple road to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. While the science behind carbon capture is sound, current technologies are expensive and not optimized for all settings. A cover story in
Chemical & Engineering News
, the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, highlights the current state of carbon capture and work being done to improve the process.
Although efficiency improvements and renewable power sources can help, they are often expensive and will not be enough to counter the billions of tons of CO
2
sent into the atmosphere each year, writes Associate Editor Craig Bettenhausen. Carbon-capture technology, implemented at the source of CO
2
emissions such as power plants, could largely negate those emissions. Despite its promise, only one commercial power plant is using this technology today. Interestingly, oil and gas companies — the main producers of CO
2
emissions — are now unlikely allies of those who are developing capture methods, spurred by competition from cheap renewable energy and consumer demand for low-carbon options.
At present, the most common form of carbon capture uses solvents to absorb CO
2
and let through other, less harmful gases. While this method is well understood, it requires up to 50% of a plant’s energy output, making it not a particularly “green” solution. Scientists are working to develop the next generation of carbon-capture technology, with solid sorbents and membranes showing promise. These materials require less energy and are already in use at some sites with concentrated CO
2
emissions. The immediacy of the issue has prompted companies to begin developing other methods, including the use of cryogenics and metal-organic frameworks to absorb the gas. While the U.S. government is working with companies to subsidize carbon capture, critics say that it distracts from investing in renewable energy and regulating polluters. Progress is being made, but experts warn that the next decade will be the deciding period in which to find a solution to CO
2
emissions.
###
The article, “The life-or-death race to improve carbon capture,” is freely available
here
.
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. Journalists and public information officers are encouraged to apply for complimentary press registration by emailing us at
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.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical
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. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
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This part of information is sourced from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-07/acs-tco072121.php
