3 ms·

> separating pure CO2 [from the atmosphere] is more complex and energy intensive Maybe we could find some kind of existing organism with the right chemistry to

by ajross 4y ago

> separating pure CO2 [from the atmosphere] is more complex and energy intensive Maybe we could find some kind of existing organism with the right chemistry to do this? Seems like such a beast would be very successful if that trick could be accomplished. No, seriously, this is what plants do. Just ask them for help; we've done it before, we have their number in the rolodex.

domtron_vox 4y ago
Grow plants > feed to goats > collect menure > anerobic decay (aka methane digester) > natural gas (pretty close anyway) + good fertilizer. That's the system I'm interested in. The only real issue is needing to filter out a sulfer based gas (forgetting the exact thing off the top of my head, but it's corrosive to metal)
- tastyfreeze 4y ago
  Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is pretty easy to clean from biogas.
dendrite9 4y ago
Have you heard about the (possible) Azolla Event? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azolla_event https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azolla_event I bought some to grow in an unused tub in my yard until I figure out what to do with it. Not exactly a major CO2 vacuum, but I like the idea. I've wondered if there's something to using such plants as a way to reduce CO2 emissions from various plants. What to do with the plants is not clear since sequestration is the important part. Here is a lab working on something like what you described. https://www.azollahs.com/research https://www.azollahs.com/research
namibj 4y ago
You can use the NaOH/CaO cycle to scrub carbon dioxide at atmospheric conditions and even regenerate the calcium carbonate with a (fairly cheap) methane + pure oxygen lime kiln (electric lime kilns are currently in testing). I'm fact, as long as we still use mined limestone to feed kilns, one can just switch them over to burn with pure oxygen (possibly diluted with it's own exhaust to reduce flame temperatures) and get a pure CO₂/H₂O exhaust. Usage in construction partially reacts back to limestone using atmospheric CO₂. The issue with plants is just that they are really inefficient compared to solar panels, to the point where scientists have some success feeding solar-industrial synthetic acetate to plants [0] and ending up substantially more efficient per solar-capturing area than outdoor plants. [0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31957068 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31957068

by ajross 4y ago

domtron_vox 4y ago

Grow plants > feed to goats > collect menure > anerobic decay (aka methane digester) > natural gas (pretty close anyway) + good fertilizer. That's the system I'm interested in. The only real issue is needing to filter out a sulfer based gas (forgetting the exact thing off the top of my head, but it's corrosive to metal)

tastyfreeze 4y ago
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is pretty easy to clean from biogas.

dendrite9 4y ago

Have you heard about the (possible) Azolla Event? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azolla_event https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azolla_event I bought some to grow in an unused tub in my yard until I figure out what to do with it. Not exactly a major CO2 vacuum, but I like the idea. I've wondered if there's something to using such plants as a way to reduce CO2 emissions from various plants. What to do with the plants is not clear since sequestration is the important part. Here is a lab working on something like what you described. https://www.azollahs.com/research https://www.azollahs.com/research

namibj 4y ago

You can use the NaOH/CaO cycle to scrub carbon dioxide at atmospheric conditions and even regenerate the calcium carbonate with a (fairly cheap) methane + pure oxygen lime kiln (electric lime kilns are currently in testing). I'm fact, as long as we still use mined limestone to feed kilns, one can just switch them over to burn with pure oxygen (possibly diluted with it's own exhaust to reduce flame temperatures) and get a pure CO₂/H₂O exhaust. Usage in construction partially reacts back to limestone using atmospheric CO₂. The issue with plants is just that they are really inefficient compared to solar panels, to the point where scientists have some success feeding solar-industrial synthetic acetate to plants [0] and ending up substantially more efficient per solar-capturing area than outdoor plants. [0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31957068 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31957068