Berkeley, CA – Scientists at UC Berkeley have developed a new yellow powder, called COF-999, that can remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air with surprising efficiency. According to CBS News, just half a pound of this powder can capture as much CO₂ as a full-grown tree does in an entire year, making it a potentially powerful tool in the fight against rising greenhouse gas levels. This novel compound, tested extensively by graduate student Zihui Zhou in Professor Omar Yaghi’s lab, works by drawing CO₂ from the air into microscopic pores in the material, effectively filtering and storing the carbon until it can be safely removed.
The technology is both simple and advanced. It’s designed to hold CO₂ in its microscopic, porous structures with compounds called amines, which react specifically to capture the gas. When air flows through a tube packed with COF-999, the CO₂ clings to the amines while the rest of the air components pass through undisturbed. This unique approach not only captures CO₂ but does so efficiently, with Zhou saying the material performs the task “at least 10 times faster” than existing carbon-capture technologies.
According to the Los Angeles Times, once the CO₂ is captured, a moderate heat of around 140 degrees Fahrenheit can release the gas, allowing it to be stored permanently—typically by pumping it underground, where it can no longer contribute to global warming.
This new innovation offers an exciting pathway for industrial-scale carbon capture. COF-999 could be deployed in facilities known as direct air capture plants, which are beginning to emerge globally. These plants aim to remove CO₂ from the air on a much larger scale to help slow the acceleration of climate change. The process is more than just promising—it could be transformative. Unlike other materials used in direct air capture, COF-999 doesn’t require extreme temperatures to release CO₂, which makes it more energy-efficient and potentially more affordable for widespread use.
Despite this impressive breakthrough, challenges remain. As reported by the LA Times, Yaghi emphasizes that capturing carbon is only one part of the equation in addressing climate change. While COF-999 could be used to lower atmospheric CO₂ levels, Yaghi and other experts warn that it’s equally critical to cut down on new emissions from fossil fuels to prevent the worsening of climate-related impacts like droughts, storms, and wildfires. Klaus Lackner, a carbon-capture expert from Arizona State University, acknowledges that technologies like COF-999 mark a significant step forward, but he believes reducing costs and optimizing the process will be essential to making such technology scalable.
Looking to the future, the potential applications of COF-999 are vast. Yaghi’s team, backed by support from UC Berkeley’s Bakar Institute for Digital Materials and a private company founded by Yaghi, hopes to see the powder used in carbon capture at industrial sites, particularly those with high CO₂ emissions. With UC Berkeley already having filed a patent for the material, there’s a clear intention to bring this technology from the lab to real-world implementation soon.
The promise of COF-999 adds to the broader landscape of green technology advancements spurred by policies like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which has already driven job growth and investment in clean energy. According to E2, a nonprofit that advocates for green jobs, the clean energy sector has expanded significantly, employing over 3 million Americans. These efforts are potentially bolstered by tools like COF-999, which may not only help reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels but also open up new economic opportunities in sustainable energy sectors, a hopeful sign for rural communities looking to invest in renewable technologies.
With practical applications on the horizon, COF-999’s development signals that science may just be catching up to the urgency of the moment, offering a tangible way to help reduce CO₂ levels and help communities invest in a cleaner, more resilient future.
