Stanford Chemists Devise Method for Rapid CO2 Capture Using Modified Minerals

Chemists at Stanford University have developed a novel method to accelerate the capture and storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The process involves transforming slow-weathering silicates into highly reactive minerals capable of rapidly absorbing and storing carbon. This innovative approach utilizes heat to convert common minerals into materials that spontaneously extract carbon from the atmosphere, holding significant potential for mitigating global warming. The method, developed by Matthew Kanan and Yuxuan Chen, involves an ion exchange reaction to activate inert silicate minerals. The process requires less energy than current direct air capture technologies and could be cost-competitive. In laboratory tests, calcium silicate and magnesium oxide, produced through this method, completely transformed into new carbonate minerals within two hours when exposed to water and pure CO2, demonstrating rapid carbon capture. This breakthrough offers a scalable solution to counteract human greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging Earth's abundant mineral resources.