With reference to ‘Direct Air Capture’, an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct?

I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration.
II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing.
III. In aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) I and II only
(b) III only
(c) I, II and III
(d) None of the above statements is correct

The correct answer is (c) I, II and III. All three statements describe correct applications or consequences of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology.

Explanation

I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration. This is correct. This is the primary purpose of DAC for climate mitigation. The technology captures carbon dioxide ([latex]CO_2[/latex]) from the ambient air, which can then be permanently stored (sequestered), typically by injecting it deep into geological formations.
II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing. This is correct. This falls under “carbon capture and utilization” (CCU).
- Food Processing: The captured [latex]CO_2[/latex] can be purified and used in the food and beverage industry, most commonly for carbonating drinks.
- Plastic Production: [latex]CO_2[/latex] can be used as a chemical feedstock (a source of carbon atoms) to create polymers and polycarbonates, which are used to make plastics.
III. In aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel. This is correct. This is a major area of research for “e-fuels” or Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs). The [latex]CO_2[/latex] captured by DAC can be chemically combined with “green” hydrogen (produced using renewable energy) through processes like the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. This creates a synthetic hydrocarbon fuel (like kerosene) that is carbon-neutral, as the carbon emitted during combustion was originally taken from the atmosphere.