from Hacker News

Half a pound of this powder can remove as much CO2 from the air as a tree

by lux on 10/23/24, 6:05 PM with 45 comments

  • by kazinator on 10/23/24, 7:50 PM

    > As it entered the tube, the Berkeley air contained CO2 in concentrations ranging from 410 ppm to 517 ppm. When it came out the other side, the scientists could not detect any carbon dioxide at all, Zhou said.

    This sounds like it could be the basis for a respirator-like breathing apparatus, not requiring tanks, for entering and staying in enclosed spaces where the concentration of CO2 is high. (Provided there is enough oxygen.)

  • by tredre3 on 10/23/24, 7:38 PM

    Might be cool to have this in an office or school classes. I realize that proper ventilation is the real fix, but it's not realistic to rebuild all buildings.

    Just think about it, you have a decorative box in your office that absorbs CO2, would it slow the inevitable cognitive decline that happens when you close your door in your poorly ventilated room?

  • by ZeroGravitas on 10/23/24, 8:43 PM

    I think that I shall never see

    A half a pound of powder as lovely as a tree. -- Joyce Kilmer

  • by doctorwho42 on 10/23/24, 7:19 PM

    So it acts like a reusable CO2 trap, then releases said CO2 at the cost of heating it up to 140F. Which then releases it.

    It doesn't really talk about how you would sequester the gaseous CO2 other than "put it underground."... But if you put a gas underground it will eventually leak out. Even a liquid is prone to leak out eventually due to plate techtonics, but a liquid doesn't immediately turn into gaseous CO2.

    So though a crucial technology, I don't see how effective it would be in a long term solution.

  • by lux on 10/23/24, 6:05 PM

    Sharing this for the community's take on whether it has potential or is just another non-viable option.

  • by Ancalagon on 10/23/24, 11:50 PM

    Wondering how inert and/or toxic this stuff is. Could you mass produce it and just sprinkle it across the arctic? Sequester carbon and have it locked up in the permafrost.

  • by LorenDB on 10/23/24, 8:20 PM