Scientists at PNNL chart a profitable route to carbon capture through carbon recycling, marking an important step in the decarbonization process and getting closer to achieving net zero emissions.

The need for technology that can capture, extract and process carbon dioxide becomes more urgent with each additional molecule of CO.₂, entering the Earth’s atmosphere. To meet this need, scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, part of the Department of Energy, have made a major breakthrough in efforts to make carbon capture more accessible and affordable. They have developed a new system that effectively captures CO.₂converts it to methanol, one of the most abundant chemicals in the world today.

Prevention of CO ingress₂ emissions to the atmosphere is an important aspect of reducing global warming. But before that happens, it’s important to create incentives for major emitters to use carbon capture technology. The prohibitively high cost of commercial capture technology has been a permanent barrier to its widespread adoption.

PNNL scientists believe methanol could provide such a stimulant. It is widely used as a fuel, solvent and a key ingredient in plastics, paints, building materials and automotive parts. CO conversion₂ Its conversion to useful substances such as methanol allows industrial enterprises to capture and use carbon.

Taking up as much space as a walk-in closet, the new carbon capture and conversion system is simple and effective at removing carbon dioxide from gas saturated with carbon dioxide. To the left of this hood, the “smoke” passes through a cylindrical container where it comes into contact with a carbon sequestrant solvent. This solvent chemically bonds with carbon dioxide and turns right into methanol. Credit: Photo by Eric Francavilla | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL chemist David Heldebrant, who leads the new technology research team, likens the system to recycling. Just as you can choose between disposable and recyclable materials, so can carbon.

“That’s basically what we’re trying to do here,” Heldebrant said. “Instead of extracting oil from the ground to make these chemicals, we’re trying to do it with CO2.₂It can be captured from the atmosphere or from coal power plants and converted into useful substances. You’re holding on to the carbon, it’s not just “pull it off the ground, use it once and throw it away” so to speak. We are trying to recycle CO_{2, as well} We try to recycle other things like glass, aluminum and plastic.”