Novel way of catching, storing gas from environment

Washington, Feb 5 (UNI) A new revolutionary process that can contain climate threats by capturing and preserving gases from environment has come to the fore.

The new process which is capable of catching gases from the environment and holding them indefinitely in molecular-sized containers, claims to capture, store and transport gases more safely and efficiently, quoted ScienceDaily as saying.

The novel method of gas storage has been developed by a team of University of Calgary researchers, the daily said.

It could help in pushing forward the development of hydrogen fuel cells and the creation of filters to catch and store gases like CO2 or hydrogen sulfide from industrial operations areas, said the researchers.

"This is proof of concept that represents an entirely new way of storing gas, not just improving on a method that already exists but mechanically traping gases at high densities without having to use high pressures, which require special storage tanks and generate safety concerns," said University of Calgary Chemistry Professor George Shimizu.

The process was possible through the invention of 'molecular nanovalves'. Using the orderly crystal structure of a barium organotrisulfonate, the researchers developed a unique solid structure that is able to convert from a series of open channels to a collection of air-tight chambers.

'' The transition happens quickly and is controlled simply by heating the material to close the nanovalve s, then adding water to the substance to re-open them and release the trapped gas.

The process is highly controllable and because we're not breaking any strong chemical bonds, the material is completely recyclable and can be used indefinitely," , said Prof Shimizu.

The team also intends to continue developing the nanovalve concept by trying to create similar structures using lighter chemicals such as sodium and lithium and structures that are capable of capturing the lightest and smallest of all gases -- hydrogen and helium, he added.

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