Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees

Eric Frei · 10th July 2009, 10:14 PM

Synthetic Tree Captures Carbon 1,000 Faster Than Real Trees

Quote:

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have designed a synthetic tree that traps carbon dioxide from the air in an attempt to combat growing emissions. The device looks less like a tree and more like a small building, but it can collect carbon about 1,000 times faster than a real tree. One synthetic tree could absorb one ton of carbon dioxide per day, an amount equivalent to that produced by about 20 cars, on average. After being trapped in a chamber, the carbon would be compressed and stored in liquid form for sequestration.

Professor Klaus Lackner of Columbia University has been working on the concept since 1998, and recently met with U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu to discuss moving forward with the project. Through his company Global Research Technologies, based in Tucson, Lackner has built an early model and hopes to have a fully working prototype within three years.

As Lackner explains, the technology is similar to that used at coal plants to capture carbon from flue stacks, but can be used anywhere. Lackner notes that half of carbon emissions come from small sources, including cars and airplanes, and is usually nearly impossible to collect. But since the carbon dioxide in the air is actually very concentrated, the device required to collect it can be fairly small.

Lackner's goal is to make the synthetic tree highly efficient for its size. Compared to the amount of carbon dioxide that a large windmill can avoid generating, for example, a synthetic tree of equal size could collect several hundred times the amount of carbon dioxide that the windmill avoids.

Each synthetic tree would cost about $30,000 to build, with most of the cost due to the technology used to release the carbon dioxide from the sorbent. In addition, since the device requires energy to operate, it also generates some carbon itself if plugged into the power grid. Lackner calculated that, for every 1000 kg of carbon dioxide the synthetic tree collects, it emits 200 kg, so that 800 kg are considered true collection.

just starting · 11th July 2009, 02:12 PM

It doesnt provide shade or changes to the ambient temperatures and therfore we need to kn ock of another 200kg of CO2. If the process is exothermic we may need to add even more. Seems like a bad idea. Lets just plant trees instead.

Eric Frei · 26th September 2009, 09:12 AM

Also PDF attached where UK engineers say building a forest of 100,000 artificial trees would mitigate all of UK's CO2.

Geo-engineering

Quote:

Lackner has
estimated that a unit based on current technology,
the size of a standard shipping container,
operating 24 hours per day, would capture about
one tonne of CO2 per day, or 365 tonnes annually.
That is roughly equal to the CO2 emissions
produced by 20 average automobile units in the
USA. However, it is conceivable that with further
research and development a single unit with a
larger collector would be able to capture as much
as ten times more CO2. At a capture rate of ten
tonnes per day some 100,000 units would be
sufficient to capture the whole of the UK’s current
emissions from non-stationary and dispersed
emissions. With a footprint of a standard 12-metre
shipping container, and allowing room for access
and infrastructure, the land required for such
a solution would be about 600 hectares, or the
equivalent of less than 10% of the area covered by
the Firth of Forth in Scotland.

On a global scale, currently the world emits
approximately 29 Gt/yr of CO2. Of this total, about
14 Gt/yr is estimated to come from non-stationary
and dispersed sources. With today’s technology,
it would take in the order of ten million artificial
trees to collect 3.6 Gt/yr. However, with
technological improvements, it should be possible
to improve the trees capability in the order of
ten. This would mean that five million trees
would be able to comfortably capture all the non
energy sector emissions for the planet. Five or
ten million units might initially be perceived as
a large number. But to put this in an industrial
mass-production context, the world’s production of
cars and commercial vehicles is approximately 73
million per year

treevet · 26th September 2009, 11:18 AM

Seems like a real good idea esp in areas of commerce. Land there is often too valuable to put aside for trees and tree health is compromised by that environment. More trees and more of these machines may be an answer.

Apocalypsse · 26th September 2009, 11:44 AM

So does it pump out clean o2 or not? Kinda doesnt help us too much in the long run if it doesnt.

Eric Frei · 26th September 2009, 11:59 AM

OK, I have read a fair whack about this.

Thing is that CO2 in the atmosphere doesn't differ a great deal around the globe so that means these devices can be placed where trees dont grow ... deserts for example.

They may not produce O2 however they can take out the CO2 and then they can store it somehow.

treevet · 26th September 2009, 12:13 PM

It would seem they are producing 02 by taking the carbon out of the atmosphere where it was displacing 02?

Eric Frei · 26th September 2009, 12:57 PM

They take the CO2 out where a tree takes the C and kicks out the O, trees use the C for sugars.

Apocalypsse · 26th September 2009, 04:29 PM

So this takes the C and the O and stuffs it in a can which will most likely be buried underground with other shit nations produce?

Eric Frei · 26th September 2009, 08:45 PM

Well, I have to buy bottles of CO2 to make my beer gassy, so likely there'll be a market for it one day.

The separation of the C from the O2 is a real tough process and will use more energy than the benefit creating a net loss in the exercise, so just "storing" the CO2 is the way to go.

serialtreekiller · 20th January 2011, 07:05 PM

great stuff it,s worth a go

11th July 2009, 02:12 PM	#2
just starting Former Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 34	Re: Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees It doesnt provide shade or changes to the ambient temperatures and therfore we need to kn ock of another 200kg of CO2. If the process is exothermic we may need to add even more. Seems like a bad idea. Lets just plant trees instead.

26th September 2009, 11:18 AM	#4
treevet Backflipper Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 2,131	Re: Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees Seems like a real good idea esp in areas of commerce. Land there is often too valuable to put aside for trees and tree health is compromised by that environment. More trees and more of these machines may be an answer.

26th September 2009, 11:44 AM	#5
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,154	Re: Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees So does it pump out clean o2 or not? Kinda doesnt help us too much in the long run if it doesnt.

26th September 2009, 11:59 AM	#6
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees OK, I have read a fair whack about this. Thing is that CO2 in the atmosphere doesn't differ a great deal around the globe so that means these devices can be placed where trees dont grow ... deserts for example. They may not produce O2 however they can take out the CO2 and then they can store it somehow. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

26th September 2009, 12:13 PM	#7
treevet Backflipper Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 2,131	Re: Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees It would seem they are producing 02 by taking the carbon out of the atmosphere where it was displacing 02?

26th September 2009, 12:57 PM	#8
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees They take the CO2 out where a tree takes the C and kicks out the O, trees use the C for sugars. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

26th September 2009, 04:29 PM	#9
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,154	Re: Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees So this takes the C and the O and stuffs it in a can which will most likely be buried underground with other shit nations produce?

26th September 2009, 08:45 PM	#10
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees Well, I have to buy bottles of CO2 to make my beer gassy, so likely there'll be a market for it one day. The separation of the C from the O2 is a real tough process and will use more energy than the benefit creating a net loss in the exercise, so just "storing" the CO2 is the way to go. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

20th January 2011, 07:05 PM	#11
serialtreekiller Former Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brisbane Posts: 49	Re: Synthetic tree captures carbon 1000 times faster than real trees great stuff it,s worth a go

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