Recently, Scientists have found a method to mimic nature’s own process of reducing carbon dioxide i.e. photosynthesis, to capture excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A team of Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India designed a method called ‘Artificial Photosynthesis’ (AP) which harnesses solar energy and converts the captured carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide (CO), which can be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines.
Atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased continuously in last century
Carbon dioxide or CO2 is an important heat-trapping greenhouse gas, which is released through human activities such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels, as well as natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions. Atmospheric CO2 has been rising ever since driving ongoing warming of the global climate. Now, in March 2021, levels have reached around 417ppm, a 50% increase in the 1750-1800 average. This is more than what had happened naturally over a 20,000 year period (from the Last Glacial Maximum to 1850, from 185 ppm to 280 ppm).
Increased CO2 level is making oceans acidic
Rising carbon dioxide concentrations are already causing the planet to heat up. At the same time that greenhouse gases have been increasing. This rise in temperature isn’t all the warming we will see based on current carbon dioxide concentrations. Greenhouse warming doesn’t happen right away because the ocean soaks up heat. About 30 percent of the carbon dioxide that people have put into the atmosphere has diffused into the ocean through the direct chemical exchange. Dissolving carbon dioxide in the ocean creates carbonic acid, which increases the acidity of the water. Or rather, a slightly alkaline ocean becomes a little less alkaline.
An integrated catalytic system based on a metal-organic framework
In Artificial Photosynthesis (AP), scientists are essentially conducting the same fundamental process in natural photosynthesis but with simpler nanostructures. However, there are plenty of hurdles to overcome as a successful catalyst to carry out AP. Scientists fabricated an integrated catalytic system based on a metal-organic framework comprising of a photosensitizer, molecules which absorb light and transfer the electron from the incident light into another nearby molecule that can harness solar power and a catalytic centre that can eventually reduce CO2.
In 2020, lockdowns to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic cut global emissions by 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2, about 7% below 2019 levels. But this is not the permanent solution as lockdowns are neither a sustainable nor desirable solution to the climate crisis. But, In this situation Artificial Photosynthesis pops up as a potential solution. We should also reduce the activities and dependence on appliances which release CO2 in environment. This earth is our home and we must do everything possible to protect it.
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