A new mechanism for sequestering carbon from the atmosphere has been developed

London: A British start-up has developed a new method using protein powder to speed up the process of intensive rock weathering. The scientists’ move could bode well for the emerging industry of carbon distillation.

Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a process in which silicate clay is spread over fields to sequester carbon. When it rains, the sand reacts with the carbon dioxide in the raindrops and is permanently stored in the rocks in the form of carbonate.

Compared to other methods, this simple technology has emerged over the years and is being funded by companies such as Meta, Google and Microsoft. However, there are some issues with this technology that need to be addressed.

One of these problems is that ERW can take decades to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. The process can be accelerated by using ultra-fine sand, but mass production is extremely difficult. So to tackle this problem, London-based start-up Fabric Nano has found a new way.

Fabric Nano discovered that sprinkling protein powder on crushed basalt rock could speed up the carbon distillation process. This method can span decades to a few years.

Grant Aarons, founder of Fabric Nano, said these proteins act naturally to keep carbon in the soil. These proteins are found in abundance in soil around the world.