Trees are essential for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that accumulates in the atmosphere. A key issue is the natural growth cycle of trees which may take years to complete depending on the type of tree.
‘Artificial trees’ can be used to cut down on emissions of carbon dioxide. Artificial trees are so called because of their ability to mimic natural trees in the context of uptake of carbon.
Such trees can and should be used in combination with natural trees. The two can complement each other with artificial trees reducing in carbon dioxide accumulation while natural trees, through photosynthesis, continue to provide fresh oxygen needed by living organisms.
Construction of artificial trees is a promising approach for carbon dioxide reduction.
Each such synthetic tree will act like a big carbon dioxide filter and is estimated to be able to capture up to 10 tons of carbon dioxide each day, which is a lot more than what a real tree absorbs.
The trees, shaped like fly-swats, will work by allowing passage of air through the structure, capturing the carbon dioxide using synthetic filters (possibly a synthetic resin or a sorbent like sodium hydroxide.)
When the filter is saturated, it will be replaced by a new filter. The captured carbon dioxide will then be removed from the filter and buried underground, just like in conventional methods of carbon capture and storage.
The idea is still under development at the laboratory stage, with prototypes of the trees being in advanced stages of development. The prototype is as big as an average shipping container. The plan to use underground sequestration for the disposal of captured carbon dioxide is still under experimentation and requires extensive research and planning. A comprehensive plan is needed for earmarking the resources required, like space to be used by these artificial trees and the cost involved in manufacturing them.
