The current focus of industrial production is on sustainable development and the reduction of carbon emissions. In reality, new technologies are being developed with a focus on carbon-neutral materials and green fuels. Let’s examine how these technologies improve the goals for reducing emissions.

Photosynthesis of hydrogen

During photosynthesis, plants use sunlight to divide water into hydrogen and oxygen, which they then combine with the carbon dioxide in the air to create carbohydrates.

The oxygen is discharged by the plant as a waste product and the hydrogen is required for the second stage of the process. During the second stage’s processes, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are mixed to create glucose. Chlorophyll and other light-sensitive pigments are found in photosynthetic cells, which absorb solar energy. In the presence of carbon dioxide, these cells may convert solar energy into organic molecules with high energy densities, such as glucose.

The main purpose of photosynthesis is to transform solar energy into chemical energy, which is then stored for use later. This process provides the majority of the energy needed by the planet’s biological systems. It is not particularly effective by the standards of human engineering, but it does the job.

A gadget that can produce hydrogen from water using just sunlight has been developed by scientists. Through electrolysis, which separates water into oxygen and hydrogen, so-called photoelectrochemical devices can be utilized to create green hydrogen. But when submerged, they can start to deteriorate within minutes.

A group of scientists has created a device that converts light into fuel to how plants do it when they photosynthesize. They sandwiched their gadget between oxide layers and covered it in graphite paste to make it water-tight. Water may be split for 240 hours with the finished product, all without the use of additional energy.

Zero carbon cement

Microalgae are being used to create carbon-neutral cement by engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder.

7% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the manufacture of cement. Lead researcher Wil Srubar stated, “We imagine a world in which using concrete as we know it is a mechanism to heal the planet, and we have the tools and the technology to do this today.”

Concrete, the substance produced in the greatest quantity worldwide, contains cement. Commonly, it is produced using limestone that is mined, burned at high temperatures, and releases gigatons of carbon dioxide annually. This limestone will be replaced by calcium carbonate made from coccolithophores, a type of photosynthetic microalgae, according to the CU Boulder team. Similar to how coral creates reefs, this type of algae naturally produces the substance by absorbing carbon dioxide and storing it in the rock. According to Subaru, coccolithophores are simple to grow and their products could be easily incorporated into the current cement manufacturing processes.

Carbon Tapper

A supercapacitor the size of a coin that can absorb CO2 from the air was created by the University of Cambridge researchers using carbon material manufactured from discarded coconut shells and a straightforward saltwater solution.

The greenhouse gas must first be absorbed from the environment using a lot of solvents, then released into storage using a lot of energy. Supercapacitors selectively absorb CO2 from the air, making them a potentially more sustainable, less expensive alternative to batteries that store energy by transferring electrons between electrodes rather than requiring chemicals. Only when they are charged, supercapacitors can absorb carbon dioxide. The Cambridge team found that switching a supercapacitor between positive and negative charges might shorten charging times and increase carbon absorption by a factor of two.

100% environmentally friendly aircraft fuel

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is made from sustainable resources and can be used with any fossil jet fuel to reduce emissions. As a “drop-in” fuel, it can be installed without requiring any changes to the infrastructure or the aircraft. SAF is comparable to ordinary jet fuel in terms of attributes, but it has a less carbon footprint.

Since it is almost chemically identical to regular fuel, it has no impact on how jet engines operate. As a result of balancing carbon emissions from manufacturing with those from travel, contributes to sustainability.

With its long-range business aviation turbofan Passport engine, GE has finished the first 100% SAF test. According to GE, the engine can support clients’ sustainability objectives by lowering CO2 emissions during flight. According to the business, it is more fuel-efficient and is compatible with low-carbon fuels.

In comparison to other engines currently in use in the 18,000-pound thrust class, GE’s Passport engine consumes 3% less fuel and uses 17% less gasoline than the CF34-3 engine. The business is in favor of the aviation sector’s objective to eliminate all commercial flight-related CO2 emissions by 2050.

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Writer

Raziya Nasrin

Intern, Content Writing Department

YSSE