Scientists have discovered a mechanism to absorb carbon dioxide from the air to later turn it into sodium bicarbonate and store it in oceans, CNN reported last week, citing a paper published in Science Advances. The team used copper to modify the absorbent material used in direct air capture and the mechanism is three times more efficient than existing absorbents. The process of air capture still remains expensive and inefficient, however, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Sheffield Peter Styring told CNN. Styring also expressed concern over the effects of dumping the sodium bicarbonate in the oceans, questioning the necessity of the new mechanism when much higher concentrations of carbon can be captured from power and industrial stations.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

  • “Phosphogeddon” is upon us: The way we use phosphorus could result in critical fertilizer shortages endangering the world's food supply and phosphate-rich agricultural runoff is causing algal blooms that kill fish, scientists warn. (The Guardian)
  • The US needs to ramp up mining efforts to avoid energy transition mineral shortages after insufficient supply has led to massive price increases. The country currently has only one operational rare earths mine. (The Financial Times)
  • Japanese plastics manufacturer Biomass Resin is producing low-carbon plastics primarily made out of rice in Fukushima. Rice forms 50-70% of the composition of Resin’s product line. (Reuters)
  • US startup SolarCycle is recycling old solar panels in an effort to reduce waste in landfills. 90% of panels in the US end up in landfills, but they contain valuable metals which can be reused by manufacturers. (YaleEnvironment360)
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