Kaleigh Harrison<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tA new method known as Pressure Induced Carbon Capture (PICC) is offering a low-tech twist on a high-stakes challenge: reducing the cost and complexity of capturing carbon dioxide<\/a> from industrial emissions.<\/p>\n Developed by researchers at Texas A&M University<\/a> in partnership with ExcelThermic Enterprises, the PICC system skips over the expensive solvents and high-temperature regeneration used in traditional amine-based capture technologies<\/a>. Instead, it applies a basic physical principle\u2014CO\u2082 dissolves in water under pressure, and escapes when that pressure drops.<\/p>\n In effect, PICC mimics the release of fizz from a soda bottle, but at industrial scale. The result is a system that can reportedly capture up to 99% of carbon dioxide emissions using only water, standard equipment, and pressure differentials. The same water can be recirculated, further minimizing operating costs and maintenance overhead.<\/p>\n From Exhaust to Storage: How PICC Works<\/p>\n Rather than relying on chemical reactions, PICC uses a sequence of physical steps to isolate and collect carbon dioxide. Emissions from sources like power plants, cement kilns, or hydrogen production are first cooled and compressed. This compressed gas enters an absorption unit where it meets a downward flow of cold water inside a packed column designed for maximum gas-liquid interaction.<\/p>\n