home
> News
> Sea urchin nickel ‘trick’ could be key to capturing carbon
Sea urchin nickel ‘trick’ could be key to capturing carbon
February 6, 2013
Sea urchin nickel ‘trick’ could be key to capturing carbon
Researchers say that the ability of sea urchins to absorb CO2 could be a model for an effective carbon capture and storage system.
Newcastle University scientists discovered by chance that urchins use the metal nickel to turn carbon dioxide into shell. They say the technique can be harnessed to turn emissions from power plants into harmless calcium carbonate. Working with extremely small nickel particles, the researchers found that when they added them to a solution of carbon dioxide in water, the nickel completely removed the CO2.
At present, most carbon capture and storage (CCS) proposals are based around the idea of capturing CO2 from electricity generating stations or chemical plants and pumping the stripped out gas into underground storage in former oil wells or rock formations. But there are still question marks about the possibility that the stored carbon may leak back out again.
Read more at BBC News.
category : Topics
