EARTH DAY for GLOBALWARMING

JAKARTA, - Scientists have designed a synthetic tree that can capture carbon dioxide from the air in an attempt to combat the increase of carbon emissions. "Tree" is shaped more like a small building of the tree, but carbon can absorb 1000 times faster than native trees.

One tree can absorb one synthetic tons of carbon dioxide per day, equivalent to the average amount spent 20 cars. Once stored in a closet, will be carbon dipadatkan and stored in liquid form and then explained.

Professor Klaus Lackner from the University of Colombia has been working on this concept since 1998. He later met with the official United States Department of Energy, Steven Chu, to discuss the development of this project. Through the company bermarkas in Tucson, Global Research Technologies, Lackner has made initial model and look forward to the perfect prototype in 3 years.

As described Lackner, technology used synthetic tree is similar to that usually used to absorb carbon dioxide from the chimney smoke in the coal mining. The difference, this tool can be used anywhere. According to Lackner, half of the total carbon emissions come from sources that are relatively small-sized, including cars and aircraft, and is usually not possible to almost absorbed. However, because the carbon dioxide in the air is usually very concentrated, the tool needed to menyerapnya can also be small.

Lackner hope is to create a synthetic tree that is efficient for its size. Compared with the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that can be avoided with the use of large windmill, a synthetic tree with the size of the same carbon dioxide can absorb hundreds of times more.

To create a synthetic tree needed funds to 30,000 U.S. dollars, largely due to the use of technology to remove carbon dioxide from the gas penghisap. In addition, because the energy needed to operate, the instrument itself also produces carbon dioxide, if connected with power source. According to calculations Lackner, for every 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide is absorbed, "tree" will produce 200 kg of carbon dioxide so that the total actually absorbed is 800 kg.