“It makes me hopeful for our generation's ability to meet the plethora of challenges that climate change will pose to us in our lifetimes, and excites me for the possibilities of future student teams to generate meaningful carbon capture solutions.”

~ Eli Weaver

This issue of the newsletter features the team of students led by Morgan Cobb, which was recently awarded funding from the Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund. The team's project is creating a device that will remove carbon dioxide from the Huron River, with a larger device planned for implementation in the Ann Arbor Wastewater Treatment Plant. Cobb, an engineering student and a Global CO₂ Initiative Student Association member, worked with team members from diverse areas across the University of Michigan: Eli Weaver (School for Environment and Sustainability or SEAS), Zachary Rose (Chemistry Department in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts or LSA), and Nikunj Bhimaria (Ross School of Business), as well as advisory Susan Fancy (Associate Director, Global CO₂ Initiative). 

Fancy began the project last summer, and starting in the fall under Cobb’s direction, the students assessed engineering, nature-based, and hybrid options available for removing CO₂ from the Great Lakes. After developing pros and cons of a wide array of options, the team split to explore two possibilities in depth: incorporating a microbial electrolytic fuel cell powered by renewable energy into a wastewater treatment plant, and using regional or invasive species to create biochar. These choices reflect the learning that removing carbon dioxide from freshwater sources is best done economically when attached to systems that are already moving freshwater around, i.e. places such as wastewater plants or power plants. The concept to use regional species to create biochar came from the need to address invasive species removal on Great Lakes shores, and in the broader Great Lakes region. 

Weaver, a Master’s student in Ecosystem Science and Management, heard about the project from his academic advisor Paul Seelbach, a professor of practice in Aquatic Ecology and Science at SEAS. The team was in need of a freshwater ecologist, and Weaver was immediately interested in the prospect of contributing to something significant related to climate change. 

"Working alongside like-minded individuals from varying disciplines who all care deeply about the climate crisis and are internally driven to work towards finding the most effective carbon dioxide removal solutions in the Great Lakes is incredibly refreshing. It makes me hopeful for our generation's ability to meet the plethora of challenges that climate change will pose to us in our lifetimes, and excites me for the possibilities of future student teams to generate meaningful carbon capture solutions," Weaver said in regards to the project.  

While the wastewater treatment plant team utilizes their funding to build a proof of concept, the biochar team will be investigating conversion and removal methods in addition to possible applications.

"It has been a joy to see students supported by the Global CO₂ Initiative contribute valuable research and careful critical thinking on new ways to remove carbon dioxide from the Great Lakes region," remarked Fancy.

"The original team spawned the concept of removing carbon dioxide from the Great Lakes themselves, but quickly realized that the economics are only effective when water is being moved around for another purpose (wastewater, power plants). The team's ecologist and engineers narrowed down a wide range of potential carbon removal choices to a microbial electrolytic fuel cell and using invasive species to make biochar. 

This has developed over a 24 month timeframe, with the team composition changing as some students graduate, the remaining students onboard new ones and the project continues. Students have the ability to think much more easily without the filters of their professional peers, and it is invigorating to witness new ideas from this team with real merit that may help change climate change, over time." 

News in a Nutshell

Slides from 2023 CCU LCA TEA workshop now available on website

Is CO₂ Removal Ready for Its Big Moment?

What is carbon capture and how does it work? Inside the process that could slow global warming

Using MOCHAs to turn greenhouse gas into a value-added product

Energy security doesn't have to cost us the planet

Low-Carbon Concrete Could Bring a ‘Radical Change’ to the Industry

Facing brutal climate math, US bets billions on direct air capture

Imminent Events

NSF Workshop on Advanced Manufacturing for Industrial Decarbonization

August 3-4, 2023

Join this workshop to learn about identifying gaps and challenges in advanced manufacturing for industrial decarbonization, including thorough techno-economic assessments and formulating recommendations for research initiatives on economically viable decarbonization technologies as well as hear federal agencies' perspectives.

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