Carbonized Wheat Flour Could Fight Climate Change
Researchers at Purdue University have shown how a process that “carbonizes” wheat flour can create small pores that capture carbon dioxide - a discovery that could potentially be the basis for a new renewable technology and a way to lessen emissions into the atmosphere and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Partnering with a team at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea, scientists used potassium hydroxide to “activate” or generate multiple small pores in wheat flour in a furnace at 700 degrees Celsius. The process binds the carbon dioxide to the surface inside the micropores.
The rate of carbon dioxide absorption varies on the volume of micropores, however, the researchers found that the material may be used repeatedly.
The research is continuing with the goal of increasing the amount of carbon dioxide that is absorbed.
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