Photo: 123rf
Scientists are working on a way to ensure there is a continued supply of carbon dioxide (CO2) used in a wide range of manufacturing industries, including the food and beverage sector.
Shortages of natural gas in 2023 were acutely felt in food-based industries, which used CO2 by-products to produce such things as carbonated beverages, extend freshness in meat trays, produce dry ice used to prolong food freshness in the transport, as well as to boost greenhouse-grown fruits and vegetables.
A multi-institutional collaboration of research and educational institutes were working on developing an alternative, using post-harvest, wood-waste, commonly known as slash, to generate a greener alternative.
The slash would be harvested and burned in a specially-engineered boiler that produces CO2 and heat - which could be used to fuel a factory or generate electricity.
Carbon Removal Project leader and University of Canterbury associate professor David Dempsey said the CO2 project was part of a bigger plan to efficiently store carbon gas emissions underground, as part of New Zealand's pathway to net zero carbon.
"The bigger project that we're working on is the goal of taking a million tonnes (of CO2) out of the atmosphere and putting it underground, and doing that every single year," Dempsey said.
"What we're looking to do is... slice a little bit off and sell it to growers. That might improve the economics of it for everyone."
Dempsey said the research will look at the feasibility of developing food-grade "green" CO2 and other industrial by-products.
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