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The revolutionary discovery of Australian scientists that could change the course of the planet
- Australian scientists have made a breakthrough that could help combat climate change
- They have figured out how to convert carbon dioxide captured into solid carbon
- Carbon dioxide can contribute to global warming even if it’s in a solid form.
Australian scientists have found a way to quickly transform carbon dioxide from gas into solid carbon, which can be kept out of the air.
Researchers from MelbourneRMIT University believes that their technology is a potential game changer for concrete and steel manufacturing. Climate ChangeTogether they account for approximately 14% of global CO2 emissions.
They discovered that carbon dioxide captured in molten metal can spark a chemical reaction when it is injected into a column.
Solid carbon is created when the gas has percolated through the metal. It’s like bubbles in champagne.
Researchers at Melbourne’s RMIT University discovered how to quickly convert carbon captured into solid carbon. Pictured: PhD researcher Karma Zuraiqi with the experimental technology
The black powder can then filtered off the top. The carbon can not contribute to global heating as long it is in its solid state.
Torben Daeneke, RMIT Associate Professor, says that ultimately the goal is to use the carbon to make a product that has its own value and possibly even a new building product.
This team’s latest work builds upon an earlier experimental approach that used liquid metallics as a catalyst for producing solid carbon.
This work was also successful but the electrolysis process proved to be too slow to be integrated into concrete or steel production lines.
Dr Daeneke claims that the new process, which involves heating steel in a furnace to produce solid carbon, is much simpler and much quicker.
This is the next step. Researchers are currently working towards a modular prototype, which will be approximately the same size as a shipping box.
The technology could prove to be a gamechanger in climate change mitigation by preventing carbon dioxide’s harmful effects on the environment (pictured: factory emissions at Broadwater in far northern NSW).
The ultimate goal is to have such units integrated into concrete and steel production lines around the world.
Dr Daeneke said, “We envision it would just be another step that we add into the overall process.”
“Instead releasing it into the atmosphere through a chimney you can put it through our system. The carbon will be captured and converted into solid fuel.”
A provisional application for patent protection has been filed to protect the technology.
Dr Ken Chiang, Dr Daeneke and co-lead researcher, and Dr Daeneke signed a $2.6 million agreement with ABR, an Australian environmental technology company that is looking for ways to decarbonise steel and cement production.
The team’s research has been published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.
