Exploring the use of copper zeolites to reduce levels of atmospheric methane

What is it about?

Among the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, methane is the most significant contributor. Methane is 120 times more powerful than CO₂ as a warming agent. It also exhibits a 28−34-fold higher contribution to global warming. Traditional methods have tried to reduce methane emissions via different techniques, such as: • Conversion to CO₂ • Reducing emission at the primary source • Reducing enteric fermentation in animal husbandry, and • Producing energy from methane. However, once released, methane diffuses in the atmosphere, making concentrated efforts challenging Another solution to this problem could lie in biological systems. Methane onooxygenase enzymes can metabolize methane to methanol at relatively low temperatures, thus removing the former from the atmosphere. Maybe this activity could be replicated? The authors of this paper attempt to carry out a catalytic reaction with the help of chemical compounds known as zeolites. These copper compounds were found to facilitate a similar conversion at a much larger scale. Thus, a useful method to convert atmospheric methane into less harmful compounds was found!

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Photo by John Bakator on Unsplash

Photo by John Bakator on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Despite methane’s lower abundance in the atmosphere as compared to CO₂, it is still projected to as much damage by the year 2030. Keeping this in mind, reducing the levels of methane in the atmosphere seems to be the most rapid solution to combat global warming. The traditional method of flaring atmospheric methane into carbon dioxide poses practical problems. Thus, there is a need for a new method which is economical, and easy to control and scale. KEY TAKEAWAY: The copper infused zeolite could mediate the conversion or removal of methane through a two-step process. The temperature and time duration of the process could also be adjusted, achieving different efficiencies of removal, ranging from 40%-100%. Thus, this research highlights a potential strategy for practical methane removal to help combat global warming.