Discarded Polystyrene Can Help Capture CO2

Humanity has littered the sky with the refuse of fossil fuel use, releasing enough CO2 to change the planet's climate. We are also chucking incredible sums of carbon in the form of plastics into landfills and into the environment around (and inside of) us. What if cleaning up one of these problems could also help clean up the other?

A new study led by Ruth Ebenbauer at Aarhus University experiments with this idea by upcycling discarded polystyrene into (part of) a material commonly used in carbon-capture systems. This material is based on amines—a simple chemical group that conveniently acts like a sponge for CO2. An amine will grab CO2 molecules when exposed to them, but let go of the CO2 when heated or depressurized, leaving it ready to go again.

The first 'CO2 scrubbers' tried in smokestacks used amines dissolved in water to do this, but solid amines are used in all kinds of carbon-capture systems now because they require less energy. These solid materials—often made into granules similar to the activated carbon in a water filter—have high surface area and high porosity, so the amines can efficiently partner up with CO2 molecules. Why this matters: The innovative use of upcycled polystyrene in carbon capture systems has significant implications for both environmental sustainability and waste management.

As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change and plastic pollution, solutions like this one offer a promising avenue for reducing waste and capturing carbon dioxide. For developers and businesses, this research could lead to new opportunities for creating sustainable materials and reducing their carbon footprint. However, questions remain about the scalability and cost-effectiveness of this approach, as well as its potential impact on the recycling and waste management industries.

As researchers continue to explore the potential of upcycled materials in carbon capture, it is clear that this technology could have far-reaching consequences for both the environment and the economy.