BACKGROUND
Climate change has quickly emerged as a critical global challenge, with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions considered the largest contributor to this climate crisis. These emissions are directly linked to shifts in weather patterns, an increase in extreme weather events, and the accelerated melting of polar ice caps. As climate impacts intensify, it becomes important that the amount of CO2 emissions is significantly reduced. Addressing this challenge requires innovative solutions capable of not only capturing CO2 emissions, but being able to do so in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. Technology that meets this criteria could be critical in slowing the progression of our climate crisis.
SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY
Researchers at Oklahoma State University have developed a solution for CO2 capture by using nanoporous carbon adsorbents that are synthesized through pyrolysis of spent coffee grounds. This sustainable and cost-effective solution uses metal activating agents such as Zinc Chloride (ZnCl2), Calcium Chloride (CaCl2), and Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2) in the pyrolysis process. The prepared spent coffee ground (SCG)-derived carbon that incorporates metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), such as Zinc Oxide (ZnO), Calcium Oxide (CaO), and Magnesium Oxide (MgO), effectively captures CO2 via several methods. The first incorporates a confinement effect due to the presence of nanopores in the SCG-derived carbon. The second method uses Lewis acid-base interactions between basic metal oxide NPs and acidic CO2. This solution uses an abundant and freely available biomass waste in spent coffee grounds, making it a sustainable and cost-effective way to capture CO2, which could help in slowing climate change.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION
MAIN ADVANTAGES
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
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