Learn how sea urchins catch carbon dioxide

To reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere one can 'catch' carbon and then put it into underground reservoirs. However, this way is both difficult to achieve high efficiency in practice, it costs a lot of costs. So scientists propose how to convert CO ₂ into a solid, harmless, cheap, fast-acting mineral before CO ₂ escapes into the atmosphere. And the answer to the problem was thanks to the sea urchin.

The team of scientists from the University of Newcastle (UK), accidentally noticed how to treat highly effective CO ₂ of humble, rough, rough, unfriendly marine creatures.

Species of sea urchins need sharp spikes like protective, shielding, medium-sized armor that are light but strong enough for their bodies to reasonably exist in the environment. Dr. Lidija Siller has found that sea urchins can absorb CO ₂ for external spikes and skeletons at the same time.

Sea urchins

According to Dr. Siller, CO2 has been converted to calcium carbonate for internal skeletons, the key is high concentrations of nickel in the exoskeleton of sea urchins. Using nickel nanoparticles in a large surface area, in addition they are tested for carbonic acid solution, resulting in complete removal of CO ₂ .

Another researcher, Gaurav Bhaduri, also showed that CO ₂ can be converted into calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate with catalysts as carbonic anhydrase enzymes.

Unfortunately, the enzyme quickly loses its effect in acidic environment, the byproduct of the process is carbonic acid, so it is very expensive to use enzymes.

Meanwhile, according to Gaurav Bhaduri, nickel catalysis is quite reasonable because it works regardless of its low pH and thanks to its magnetic ability, it can be operated in dual conversion. Besides, compared to enzymes, it is 1,000 times cheaper, not to mention the products obtained are not only harmless to the environment but also useful in many industries.

The team designed a model for CO2 capture, instead of going from the chimney to the environment, smoke must pass through a column of water rich in nickel nanoparticles. The solid minerals calcium carbonate formed will be recovered at the bottom of the column.

The researchers said that from the prototype model they could develop to serve power plants, chemical plants, not only cost less but also obtain calcium carbonate byproducts. auxiliary for cement and other construction materials.

According to Gizmag, the Newcastle University team has received a patent for the scientific process, currently seeking investors to develop applications.

Research by scientists from Newcastle University has been published in the catalytic journal Science and Technology.