A look inside the MEPS reactor (Methane Eradication Photochemical System), where chlorine atoms are formed by UV light and respond with methane gas. Credit: Morten KrogsbøllIn an amazing brand-new research study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have utilized light and chlorine to eliminate low-concentration methane from air. The outcome gets us closer to being able to eliminate greenhouse gases from livestock housing, biogas production plants and wastewater treatment plants to benefit the climate.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has determined that minimizing methane gas emissions will right away decrease the rise in global temperature levels. The gas depends on 85 times more powerful of a greenhouse gas than CO2, and more than half of it is discharged by human sources, with livestock and nonrenewable fuel source production accounting for the largest share.Innovative Methane Reduction MethodA special brand-new approach developed by a research group at the University of Copenhagens Department of Chemistry and spin-out company Ambient Carbon has succeeded in removing methane from air.” A big part of our methane emissions originates from millions of low-concentration point sources like livestock and pig barns. In practice, methane from these sources has been impossible to focus into greater levels or get rid of. Our brand-new result shows that it is possible using the reaction chamber that weve have built,” says Matthew Stanley Johnson, the UCPH climatic chemistry professor who led the study.The scientists developed a response chamber and developed a technique that mimics and considerably accelerates methanes natural deterioration process.They called the method the Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS) and it breaks down methane 100 million times faster than in nature.Credit: Michael Skov Jensen, SCIENCE/KUEarlier, Johnson presented the research results at COP 28 in Dubai via an online connection and in Washington D.C. at the National Academy of Sciences, which encourages the United States government on science and technology.Reactor Cleans Methane From AirMethane can be burnt off from air if its concentration exceeds 4 percent. A lot of human-caused emissions are below 0.1 percent and therefore not able to be burned.To get rid of methane from air, the researchers constructed a response chamber that, to the inexperienced, looks like an elongated metal box with loads of tubes and determining instruments. Inside package, a chain reaction of chemical substances takes place, which winds up breaking down the methane and getting rid of a big part of the gas from air.How MEPS Works. UV light and chlorine gas by electrolysis removes methane on website. Credit: Matthew Stanley Johnson, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen” In the clinical study, weve shown that our reaction chamber can get rid of 58 percent of methane from air. And, given that submitting the research study, we have enhanced our lead to the laboratory so that the reaction chamber is now at 88 percent,” says Matthew Stanley Johnson.Chlorine: The Key IngredientChlorine is essential to the discovery. Utilizing chlorine and the energy from light, researchers can eliminate methane from air much more efficiently than the way it happens in the atmosphere, where the procedure generally takes 10-12 years.MEPS reactor. The scientists constructed a response chamber and devised a method that mimics and significantly accelerates methanes natural degradation process.They dubbed the technique the Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS) and it deteriorates methane 100 million times faster than in nature.The method works by presenting chlorine molecules into a reaction chamber with methane gas. The scientists then shine UV light onto the chlorine particles. The lights energy triggers the particles to divide and form 2 chlorine atoms.Credit: Matthew Stanley Johnson, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen” Methane disintegrates at a snails rate since the gas isnt especially delighted about responding with other things in the environment. Nevertheless, weve found that, with the aid of light and chlorine, we can trigger a response and break down the methane approximately 100 million times faster than in nature,” describes Johnson.About the MethodThe researchers built a reaction chamber and designed a technique that mimics and greatly speeds up methanes natural deterioration process.They called the method the Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS) and it degrades methane 100 million times faster than in nature.The technique works by introducing chlorine molecules into a reaction chamber with methane gas. The researchers then shine UV light onto the chlorine molecules. The lights energy causes the molecules to split and form 2 chlorine atoms.The chlorine atoms then steal a hydrogen atom from the methane, which then falls apart and decomposes. The chlorine item (hydrochloric acid) is recorded and subsequently recycled in the chamber.The methane becomes co2 (CO2), carbon monoxide gas (CO), and hydrogen (H2) in the very same way as the natural process performs in the atmosphere.Future Applications: Addressing Livestock and Waste EmissionsA 40ft shipping container will soon reach the Department of Chemistry. It will become a bigger prototype of the response chamber that the researchers developed in the lab when it does. It will be a “methane cleaner” which, in concept, will have the ability to be connected to the ventilation system in a livestock barn.” Todays livestock farms are high-tech facilities where ammonia is already gotten rid of from air. As such, eliminating methane through existing air purification systems is an obvious solution,” describes Professor Johnson.The same applies to biogas and wastewater treatment plants, which are some of the biggest human-made sources of methane emissions in Denmark after livestock production.Inside the MEPS reactor. Credit: Matthew Stanley Johnson, Department of Chemistry, University of CopenhagenAs an initial examination for this study, the researchers traveled around the nation measuring just how much methane leakages from cattle stalls, wastewater treatment plants and biogas plants. In several locations, the scientists had the ability to document that a large quantity of methane leakages into the atmosphere from these plants. ” For example, Denmark is a pioneer when it pertains to producing biogas. If just a couple of percent of the methane from this procedure escapes, it combats any environment gains,” concludes Johnson.The research has simply been released in the journal Environmental Research Letters.More About Methane (CH4) Methane can be burned off to eliminate it from air, however its concentration must be over 4%, 40,000 parts per million (ppm) to be combustible. As the majority of human-caused emissions are below 0.1 percent, they can not be burned.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has figured out that decreasing methane gas emissions will instantly decrease the rise in worldwide temperatures.Methane is a greenhouse gas that is given off naturally from, to name a few things, wetlands and from manufactured sources such as food production, natural gas and sewage treatment plants.Today, methane gas is accountable for a 3rd of the greenhouse gases that impact the environment and trigger international warming.It takes methane 10-12 years to decompose naturally in the atmosphere, where it is transformed into carbon dioxide.Over a 25-year period, methane is 85 times even worse for the environment than CO2. Over a 100-year period, methane is 30 times even worse for the climate than CO2. The concentration of methane in the environment has actually increased by 150% because the mid-1700s. Methane alone has actually increased anthropogenic radiation direct exposure by 1.19 W/m ^ 2, which is accountable for a 0.6 ◦ C increase in international typical surface air temperature, according to the IPCC.Reference: “A high performance gas phase photoreactor for eradication of methane from low-concentration sources” by Morten Krogsbøll, Hugo S Russell and Matthew S Johnson, 18 December 2023, Environmental Research Letters.DOI: 10.1088/ 1748-9326/ ad0e33The research study was funded by a grant from Innovation Fund Denmark for the PERMA job, a part of AgriFoodTure. The research study was performed in collaboration in between the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, Arla, Skov and the UCPH spin-out company Ambient Carbon, started and now headed by Professor Matthew Stanley Johnson. The business was begun to develop MEPS (Methane Eradication Photochemical System) innovation and make it offered to society..
Our brand-new result shows that it is possible using the reaction chamber that weve have built,” says Matthew Stanley Johnson, the UCPH climatic chemistry teacher who led the study.The scientists constructed a reaction chamber and developed a technique that simulates and greatly accelerates methanes natural deterioration process.They dubbed the method the Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS) and it breaks down methane 100 million times faster than in nature.Credit: Michael Skov Jensen, SCIENCE/KUEarlier, Johnson presented the research results at COP 28 in Dubai through an online connection and in Washington D.C. at the National Academy of Sciences, which encourages the United States federal government on science and technology.Reactor Cleans Methane From AirMethane can be burnt off from air if its concentration goes beyond 4 percent. The scientists constructed a response chamber and created a technique that replicates and considerably accelerates methanes natural deterioration process.They called the approach the Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS) and it deteriorates methane 100 million times faster than in nature.The method works by introducing chlorine molecules into a reaction chamber with methane gas. Weve discovered that, with the assistance of light and chlorine, we can set off a reaction and break down the methane approximately 100 million times faster than in nature,” explains Johnson.About the MethodThe researchers developed a reaction chamber and devised a technique that mimics and greatly accelerates methanes natural destruction process.They called the method the Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS) and it deteriorates methane 100 million times faster than in nature.The method works by introducing chlorine particles into a reaction chamber with methane gas. If just a few percent of the methane from this process escapes, it counteracts any environment gains,” concludes Johnson.The research study has just been released in the journal Environmental Research Letters.More About Methane (CH4) Methane can be burned off to eliminate it from air, however its concentration should be over 4%, 40,000 parts per million (ppm) to be combustible. As a lot of human-caused emissions are listed below 0.1 percent, they can not be burned.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified that lowering methane gas emissions will right away reduce the rise in global temperatures.Methane is a greenhouse gas that is discharged naturally from, amongst other things, wetlands and from man-made sources such as food production, natural gas and sewage treatment plants.Today, methane gas is responsible for a 3rd of the greenhouse gases that affect the environment and cause global warming.It takes methane 10-12 years to decay naturally in the atmosphere, where it is converted into carbon dioxide.Over a 25-year period, methane is 85 times worse for the climate than CO2.
