bioscriBE 

LEARNING FROM HUMAN LUNGS TO

SEQUESTER CARBON DIOXIDE

Studying the way human lungs work is inspiring

new technologies that remove carbon dioxide

from sources like flue stacks, preventing this

greenhouse gas from reaching our atmosphere

and warming the planet. This process of looking

upon nature as a model, measure and mentor is

Biomimicry. One can find its imprints in day to day

life viz- architectural designs, innovative shape of 

airplanes, Velcro chips and in display technologies.

Traces can also be found in many engineering

problems such as hydrophobicity and harnessing

solar energy through the evolutionary mechanics

of selective advantages.

With over a third of the world’s CO2 coming from

energy production, innovations that promise to

clean up that process are certainly a breath of 

fresh air.

Biomimetic membranes that can remove CO2

from other gases work upon a method called

Facilitated-Transport which is comparable to the

way human lungs get rid of CO2 when we breathe. 

The researchers have developed a fixed agent

within the membrane that combines the CO2 with

moisture to form a new molecule which passes

easily through the membrane while all the other

gases are retained. The idea of such an agent was

mimicked from the Carbonic Anhydrase enzyme in

our body which allows CO2 to be removed from

our bloodstream thousands of times faster than

possible without it. The new membrane is made of 

plastic, structured by nanomaterials that are

durable, eco-friendly as well as inexpensive and

thus are perfect to be used in industries from

where the CO2 emissions are of major concern.

The current methods being used for the removal

of CO2 are expensive and require the use of 

certain harmful chemicals. The effectiveness is

directly proportional to the amounts of CO2

present in the gas. Thus, in flue stacks where the

CO2 concentrations are low, CO2 is first

compressed to 100 atms or more for easy storage

and transport. This compressed CO2 is then

allowed to react with the fixed agent which upon

its reaction with moisture forms chemical

bicarbonate which is then quickly transported

through the membrane while the other gases are

retained. This way the CO2 gets separated from

other flue gases.

Thus, this new technology is of great use in coal-

powered plants wherein employing the next-

generation CO2 filters could be essential in giving

us a little breathing room.

Moreover, these membranes are capable of 

removing over 90% of the CO2 travelling through

flue stacks and are thus revolutionary products to

reduce energy consumption required earlier for

this process without affecting one’s pocket

adversely!

FACT OF THE WEEK:

If you laid flat your lungs, their gas exchange surface would be 70 times your body

surface area – about the size of a volley ball court!!

Bioscribe Issue 7 By- Kritika Sood

2nd

year, UIET