Iranian Woman’s Invention Captures Massive Air Pollutants
WANA (Dec 30) – A newly developed chemical compound created by an Iranian researcher significantly improves the absorption of large volumes of carbon dioxide, one of the most harmful pollutants in major cities, according to research findings released in Finland.
The compound, invented by an Iranian female scientist, is capable of absorbing 156 milligrams of carbon dioxide per gram of material and releasing it using relatively low heat. This represents a major advancement in direct air capture technologies, which typically require high energy input to extract CO₂ from dilute air.
The research was conducted at the University of Helsinki, where an Iranian chemist has developed a material that captures carbon dioxide directly from ambient air without reacting with other atmospheric gases and without generating excessive heat.
Buildings are enveloped in smog following the increase in air pollution in Tehran, Iran, on December 27, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
The method was invented by Zahra Eshaghi Gorji, a postdoctoral researcher, and relies on a compound made from a superbase and an alcohol-based substance. A superbase is a highly basic compound with a strong tendency to attract protons, giving it exceptional chemical reactivity toward carbon dioxide.
Laboratory tests showed that the compound’s carbon capture capacity significantly outperforms existing technologies. A key advantage is that it does not bind with nitrogen, oxygen, or other gases in the atmosphere, resulting in lower heat generation and higher efficiency.
One of the most notable benefits of the compound is the ease with which the absorbed carbon dioxide can be released. Heating the material to 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes is sufficient to recover pure CO₂, allowing the compound to be reused.
From Air Pollution to Urban Blackouts in Iran
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“The ease of CO₂ release is the key advantage of our new compound,” Eshaghi Gorji said. “In current materials, releasing carbon dioxide often requires temperatures above 900 degrees Celsius.”
The compound also demonstrated strong durability. After 50 reuse cycles, it retained 75 percent of its original absorption capacity, and after 100 cycles, it maintained 50 percent of its capacity. Researchers say this reusability could significantly reduce operational costs if the technology is deployed at scale.
According to the research team, the compound is not only efficient but also safe and cost-effective. Eshaghi Gorji said the discovery is the result of more than a year of testing different chemical combinations, noting that none of the components are expensive to produce and that the compound is non-toxic.
