Burning coal could soon become a little friendlier if Dr. John Zhu from the University of Queensland has anything to say about it. He hopes to develop a carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane that can filter carbon dioxide out of coal plant emissions, allowing the pure carbon dioxide to be sequestered. The membrane blocks carbon dioxide, while letting other gases through.
While similar technology exists, they separate gases too slowly to be effective in power plants. The CNT isolates "moving gases up to 100 times faster than other gas separation techniques."
In addition, the same technique can be used to separate methane that is removed during coal mining. Usually other gases dilute the methane too much to make it useful, but by using a CNT membrane, the other gases can be filtered out.
With plans to commercialize CNT membranes in as little as 10 years, the dark reality of coal energy may soon improve. Now if only they can get it out of the ground without destroying half of Appalachia.
Via PhysOrg.com
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written by Tom Schwartz, September 21, 2007
Stop burning coal!
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written by wendy b hall, October 05, 2007
Please no more lopping off the tops of our precious mountain ranges !
NOW
NOW
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written by Louis, December 15, 2007
how green is your electrical supply ? maybe we should turn off our computers, or maybe we keep digging for coal
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written by Alex, January 12, 2008
My only question is: Can you burn another time the amount of carbon dioxide filtered using this procedure? :-
If is possible, no problems with the CO2. You are burning all the time the same fuel without polluting anything
If is possible, no problems with the CO2. You are burning all the time the same fuel without polluting anything
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written by Brett, July 27, 2008
destroying half of Appalachia.
Powder River is all prarie full of high grade coal. The praries are full of low grade coal perfect for electrical production. Saskatchewan is working on coal capture wich could allow oil to be produced freindlier and cheaper. This would make coal to oil more voiable, tarsands enviromentaly freindly, and could be used to make every refinery frendlier, put more natural gas on the market, it would especially help steel mills wich use large amounts of CO2.
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