Miracle Powder Sucks CO2 Out Of The Air ‘Like Nothing Else Out There’

A team of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, led by Professor Omar Yaghi, has developed a powerful new carbon-capturing material called COF-999. This powdery substance, a type of covalent organic framework (COF), is capable of adsorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air. Remarkably, just 200 grams of COF-999 can capture around 20 kg (44 lbs) of CO2—a level equivalent to what a tree absorbs in a year.

COF-999 was engineered to trap CO2 molecules using a unique, porous structure embedded with amines. These basic amine polymers latch onto acidic CO2 molecules as ambient air passes through the powder. Unlike traditional DAC methods that use amine solutions in water, COF-999 operates effectively at room temperature, making it highly energy-efficient.

Additionally, the material’s robust covalent bonds and large surface area enhance its durability and effectiveness, allowing it to adsorb substantial quantities of CO2 at a fast rate—at least “10 times faster” than comparable materials, according to study leader Zihui Zhou.

Unlike previous materials that require constant heating to function, COF-999 can operate at room temperature, which reduces the energy demand associated with carbon capture. It can also withstand at least 100 reuse cycles without degrading, maintaining its carbon-capturing capacity for longer. When CO2 captured in COF-999 is ready for release, it only requires heating to a mild 140°F (60°C) for extraction. The released CO2 can then be stored underground for long-term sequestration or repurposed in industries such as concrete or plastic manufacturing.

Though effective, direct air capture technology is currently costly, with estimates between $600 to $1,000 per ton of CO2 removed. The World Economic Forum suggests these costs must drop to less than $200 per ton for DAC to be viable on a large scale. COF-999’s composition doesn’t require expensive materials, which Yaghi believes could reduce production costs and make carbon capture more affordable and scalable.

COF-999 still requires further testing and refinement, and Yaghi anticipates that it could take up to two years before it reaches its full potential. At present, global DAC plants capture just 0.01 megatons of CO2 annually—a fraction of the 85 megatons needed by 2030.

In line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s projections, capturing 10 billion tons of CO2 per year by 2050 is essential to achieving net-zero emissions.

The study was recently published in the journal Nature.

Source: UC Berkeley