Baking soda is remarkable stuff. It can cure indigestion, neutralize odors, whiten teeth, you can clean surfaces and wash yourself with it. If new research is correct, we might also be able to use it to reduce greenhouse gasses and slow climate change.

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore scientists, along with colleagues from Harvard University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are reporting a breakthrough in carbon capture technology using the same baking soda sold in grocery stores.

According to a paper published in Nature Communications, the researchers created a new carbon capture medium made from core-shell microcapsules. These consist of an outer polymer shell around a fluid made from sodium carbonate (baking soda) solution.

The microcapsules used, are the same type used for time controlled delivery and release in pharmaceuticals. The capsules keep the liquid contained and allow the Co2 to pass through the shell. It is the first demonstration of using this type of approach for Co2 capture and release.

The aim of carbon capture is to slow the release of Co2, reducing the quantities flowing into the atmosphere.

Current methods for accomplishing this use caustic fluids such as monoethanol amine to capture carbon. These fluids, however, can be harmful to the environment in other ways.

“Our method is a huge improvement in terms of environmental impacts because we are able to use simple baking soda – present in every kitchen – as the active chemical,” said Roger Aines, one of the Lawrence Livermore team members in a statement.

Aines added that the baking soda is less corrosive and safer for plant workers and equipment.

“Corrosiveness also is improved because the chemical is more benign and always is encapsulated. Putting the carbonate solution inside of the capsules allows it to be used for CO2 capture without making direct contact with the surface of equipment in the power plant, as well as being able to move it between absorption and release towers easily, even when it absorbs so much CO2 that it solidifies.”

Additionally, unlike the dangerous chemicals, the baking soda only reacts with Co2, or the ‘gas of interest’.

“Encapsulation allows you to combine the advantages of solid capture media and liquid capture media in the same platform,” said Jennifer Lewis of Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, lead author of the paper.

In carbon capture and storage, the capture medium is placed in the exhaust pathway. For example, in the case of a power plant the capsules would be placed in the stacks. Once the capsules are at capacity, they are removed and replaced with fresh ones.

The used capsules are then taken to a different facility where they are heated to release the Co2 into an underground storage area. The new, baking soda, capsules can then be returned to the plant for re-use.

The capsules developed by the team also absorb more carbon than traditional methods.

“It’s all about surface area,” Aines said. “The capsules force the baking soda to stay in little tiny droplets (an order of magnitude smaller than a drop of amines would take on) and little drops react faster because they contact more of the CO2.”

The new capsules are not ready to roll out quite yet. A new filtration method will be required before the technology can be put to use. Researchers at Lawrence Livermore are currently attempting to create that method with the National Energy Technology Laboratory.