As the circular economy market is expected to reach $339 billion by 2026, CC&C leads the charge with its advanced CO2 capture technology. "Turning carbon dioxide-a byproduct of industrial processes-into usable materials isn't just a sustainable practice; it's essential for maintaining industrial efficiency in an energy-dependent world," Adams added.
"Geological limitations made scaling traditional carbon capture methods impractical for many companies," Adams pointed out. "That's why we got involved. Spending hundreds of millions to capture 30,000 tons didn't make sense. Our sub-$100 per ton capture cost is a game-changer for the industry."
Rising Energy Demand and the Consequences of Current Practices
The world's energy consumption has surged by more than 20% in the past decade, intensifying pressure on resources. This increase has led to growing pollution, contributing to ocean acidification and declining air quality-both significant public health threats.
With greenhouse gases continuing to rise, reducing emissions alone won't suffice. Active CO2 removal is needed. Transitioning to a circular economy can help address emissions, resource scarcity, waste, and hazardous chemical use while increasing resilience.
Carbon Capture: Driving the Circular Economy
Carbon capture technology (CCS) involves trapping CO2 emissions from power plants, industrial sources, or directly from the air. The captured CO2 can be stored or repurposed for industrial applications.
Key uses include:
- Reusing CO2 in Industrial Processes: Captured CO2 can assist in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), boosting crude oil extraction while storing CO2 underground. It is also used to produce chemicals like methanol, synthetic fuels, and in concrete production, which reduces emissions.
- Reducing Industry's Carbon Footprint: CO2 can create low-carbon products like synthetic fuels, carbonated beverages, and polymers. It can also be used in building materials, where it reacts with minerals to form solid compounds, enhancing durability and cutting emissions.
- Offsetting Emissions in the Supply Chain: In agriculture, steel, and cement industries, captured CO2 can be used to produce fertilizers, improving crop yields and reducing emissions.
By converting CO2 waste into a valuable resource, carbon capture creates a circular system where carbon is reused, aligning with circular economy principles. This promotes carbon markets and generates new revenue streams.
Scaling Carbon Recycling
Despite the benefits, carbon recycling has yet to be widely adopted. "Traditional capture methods are costly and inefficient for large-scale use, which is why we engineered a new adsorber using graphene-coated spheres to reduce unit size and energy needs," Adams explained.
CC&C's Direct Air Carbon Capture (DACC) adsorber only needs airflow to trap CO2. The CO2 can be released on demand with minimal power, removing the need for multiple adsorbers. With costs under $100 per ton, this solution is designed to be mass-producible for rapid deployment, from a square meter in size to as large as a shipping container.
"By integrating off-the-shelf components like fans and AI, we've created a scalable, cost-effective solution. While still in early stages, we aim to mass-produce these units to tackle the CO2 challenge more effectively," Adams concluded.
A Call to Action
Adams emphasized, "Addressing resource scarcity and waste is no longer optional; it's a requirement for progress. By adopting recycling and reuse practices, we're taking vital steps to ensure a sustainable future."
Related Links
Carbon Capture and Commercialization
Carbon Worlds - where graphite, diamond, amorphous, fullerenes meet
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