'Synthetic tree' claims to catch carbon in the air
source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/06/22/synthetic.tree.climate.change.ccs/index.html
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Scientists in the United States are developing a "synthetic tree" capable of collecting carbon around 1,000 times faster than the real thing.
A conceptual design of how the "synthetic tree" might look should they ever reach the stage of production.
As the wind blows though plastic "leaves," the carbon is trapped in a chamber, compressed and stored as liquid carbon dioxide.
The technology is similar to that used to capture carbon from flue stacks at coal-fired power plants, but the difference is that the "synthetic tree" can catch carbon anytime, anywhere.
"Half of your emissions come from small, distributed sources where collection at the site is either impossible or impractical," said Professor Klaus Lackner, Ewing-Worzel Professor of Geophysics in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University.
A conceptual design of how the "synthetic tree" might look should they ever reach the stage of production.
As the wind blows though plastic "leaves," the carbon is trapped in a chamber, compressed and stored as liquid carbon dioxide.
The technology is similar to that used to capture carbon from flue stacks at coal-fired power plants, but the difference is that the "synthetic tree" can catch carbon anytime, anywhere.
"Half of your emissions come from small, distributed sources where collection at the site is either impossible or impractical," said Professor Klaus Lackner, Ewing-Worzel Professor of Geophysics in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University.
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becktionary83
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This thing is fugly!
- 2 years ago
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becktionary83
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Maitereya
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this thing sucks.
- 2 years ago
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Maitereya
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Anacrusis
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And how much carbon is produced in building one of these. I agree, replant our forests ten fold.
- 2 years ago
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Anacrusis
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ALLNATURALVEGANS
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I agree, I would rather plant 1,000 trees too! They are so much more beautiful than this contraption they are trying to create...
- 2 years ago
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ALLNATURALVEGANS
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JanforGore
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Again, there is already a way to do it. Plant real trees. So it catches it. Then what?
- 2 years ago
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JanforGore
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Lola444
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This is scary, how is this going to affect our environment.
- 2 years ago
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Lola444
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Sam_the_Wizer
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I'd rather plant 1,000 trees.
- 2 years ago
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Sam_the_Wizer
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SeaJade
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Sam_the_Wizer:
or even a few billion!
- 2 years ago
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SeaJade
