New technologies advance CO2 conversion and direct air capture

Researchers are advancing carbon recycling technologies through two distinct methods of CO2 management. In Japan, a team from Tohoku University has developed a copper phthalocyanine catalyst that converts CO2 directly into methane. This process achieved a Faradaic efficiency of 79.5%, utilizing an inexpensive blue pigment to selectively produce methane, which can be integrated into existing gas infrastructure.

Separately, a collaborative effort involving the University of Zaragoza, the Institute of Nanotechnology and Materials of Aragon (INMA), and the University of Manchester has produced ultra-thin membranes designed for Direct Air Capture (DAC). These membranes combine polymers with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), specifically a modified ZIF-8, to create microscopic pores. This technology aims to separate CO2 from the atmosphere even at the low concentrations found in ambient air, addressing the challenge of capturing dispersed greenhouse gases.