With reference to ‘Direct Air Capture’, an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration.
2. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing.
3. In aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. I and II only
2. III only
3. I, II and III
4. None of the above statements is correct

Explanation

Statement I is correct

• Direct air capture (DAC) technologies extract CO2 directly from the atmosphere at any location, unlike carbon capture, which is generally carried out at the point of emissions, such as a steel plant. The CO2 can be permanently stored in deep geological formations or used for a variety of applications.

Statement II is correct

• The CO2 captured from the air can be utilised for various industrial purposes. Captured CO₂ can be used as a feedstock for producing plastics (e.g., polycarbonates). In food processing, CO₂ is used for carbonated beverages, cold storage, and controlled-atmosphere packaging. This provides a sustainable CO₂ source for industry.

Statement III is correct

• Early commercial efforts to develop synthetic aviation fuels using air-captured CO2 and hydrogen have started, reflecting the important role that these fuels could play in the sector.

Answer: (c) I, II and III; Difficulty Level: Medium