Carbon dioxide capture from open air using covalent organic frameworks

Before anyone points out that trees already handle this, let me clarify:<p>We need to pursue all available options simultaneously to effectively combat climate change. This includes:<p><pre><code> Reducing reliance on carbon-based energy to lower emissions. Implementing carbon capture and long-term storage solutions to remove excess CO₂ from the atmosphere.</code></pre>

It&#x27;s worth noting that this lab has a lot of patents: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;yaghi.berkeley.edu&#x2F;publications.html#patent" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;yaghi.berkeley.edu&#x2F;publications.html#patent</a><p>It&#x27;s not clear that this particular chemical is subject to a patent application, but they have applied for a patent on the entire class of chemicals: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;patents.google.com&#x2F;patent&#x2F;US20220370981A1" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;patents.google.com&#x2F;patent&#x2F;US20220370981A1</a><p>I&#x27;m conflicted about this. while I&#x27;m skeptical about most patents this is exactly the kind of invention that patents are supposed to incentivise, and this guy obviously deserves a reward if his invention, like, literally saves the world. But - reading between the lines, while it&#x27;s effective, it sounds like it&#x27;s not yet <i>cost effective</i>. And making something cost effective is exactly the kind of thing that patents that restrict development to a single lab (which is what a class patent will do) will cause problems with.<p>Probably the best answer would be for someone rich to buy him out and licence it for free.

News article from Berkley, where it was developed.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.berkeley.edu&#x2F;2024&#x2F;10&#x2F;23&#x2F;capturing-carbon-from-the-air-just-got-easier&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.berkeley.edu&#x2F;2024&#x2F;10&#x2F;23&#x2F;capturing-carbon-from-t...</a>

To counteract the current carbon dioxide emissions, we only have to heat up 30 million metric tons of that stuff from ambient to 60°C every 18.8 minutes. And then figure out what to do with the 1.35 million metric tons carbon dioxide gas cloud we produce every 18.8 minutes.

Related: <i>Half a pound of this powder can remove as much CO2 from the air as a tree</i> (21 points, 40 days ago, 45 comments) <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=41927684">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=41927684</a>

See also: metal organic frameworks. Cheaper to produce and faster at adsorbing.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Metal%E2%80%93organic_framework" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Metal%E2%80%93organic_framew...</a>

I think such an appliance had already been invented. They are called &quot;trees&quot;.<p>All they need to do their work is corporations leaving them alone.