https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/innovations/efficient-method-capture-carbon-dioxide-atmosphere-developed-university-helsinki Skip to main content * News News + News and press releases + War in Ukraine + Think Corner + Events calendar + Public examinations + Unitube - videos and live streams + Press and media services + Newsletters + University on social media Close menu * Admissions and education Admissions and education + Search for programmes and courses + Apply to bachelor's and master's programmes + Apply to doctoral programmes + For international students + Open university + Apply for exchange and visiting studies + Continuous learning + Education + Apply to supplementary studies + Contact admission and student services Close menu * Research Research Explore our research, our research units, services for researchers and our top-notch research infrastructures. + Find a researcher + Research units and infrastructures + Strategic research + Top research + Doctoral school + Research integrity + Services for researchers Close menu * Innovations and cooperation Innovations and cooperation Innovations, services and collaboration opportunities for researchers, businesses, alumni and donors. + Innovations and entrepreneurship + Support us + For alumni + Decision-makers + International cooperation Close menu * About us About us + Strategy, economy and quality + This is the University of Helsinki + Sustainability and responsibility + Careers + People + Archive and registration services + Processing of data at the University + Book a venue + International university + Visit us Close menu * Faculties and units Faculties and units + Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry + Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences + Faculty of Educational Sciences + Faculty of Humanities + Faculty of Law + Faculty of Medicine + Faculty of Pharmacy + Faculty of Science + Faculty of Social Sciences + Faculty of Theology + Faculty of Veterinary Medicine + Swedish School of Social Science Close menu Home Home Close Support us Efficient method to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere developed at the University of Helsinki The method is based on a recyclable filtration fluid consisting of a superbase-alcohol compound. One gram of the new compound can absorb 156 milligrams of carbon dioxide. A new method to capture carbon dioxide from the air has been developed at the University of Helsinki's chemistry department. The method developed by Postdoctoral Researcher is based on a compound of superbase and alcohol. Tests done in professor group show that the compound appears promising: one gram of the compound can absorb 156 milligrams of carbon dioxide directly from untreated ambient air. However, the compound does not react with nitrogen, oxygen or other atmospheric gases. Capasity clearly outperforms the CO[2] capture methods currently in use. The CO[2] captured by the compound can be released by heating the compound at 70 degC in 30 minutes. Clean CO[2] is recovered and can be recycled. The ease of releasing CO[2] is the key advantage of the new compound. In current compounds, releasing CO[2] typically requires heat above 900 degrees Celsius. - In addition, the compound can be used multiple times: the compound retained 75 percent of its original capacity after 50 cycles, and 50 percent after 100 cycles. Non-toxic and cost-effective The new compound was discovered by experimenting with a number of bases in different compounds, says Eshagi Gorji. The experiments lasted more than a year in total. The most promising base proved to be 1,5,7-triazabicyclo [4.3.0] non-6-ene (TBN), developed at in the professor group, which was combined with benzyl alcohol to produce the final compound. - None of the components is expensive to produce, Eshaghi Gorji points out. In addition, the fluid is non-toxic. The compound will now be tested in pilot plants at a near-industrial scale, rather than in grams. A solid version of the liquid compound must be made for this purpose. - The idea is to bind the compound to compounds such as silica and graphene oxide, which promotes the interaction with carbon dioxide. More information: Postdoctoral Researcher Zahra Eshaghi Gorji (in English) , 046 540 89 78 Communications Specialist Juha Merimaa, , 050 3017905 Link to article 29.12.2025 Juha Merimaa News * Innovations * Human-centric technology Share this page Newsletter Back News and press releases * News and press releases * War in Ukraine * Think Corner * Public examinations * Unitube - videos and live streams * Press and media services * Newsletters * University on social media P.O. Box 3 (Fabianinkatu 33) 00014 University of Helsinki Switchboard: +358 (0) 2941 911 (mobile call charge / local network charge)