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

I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration.

II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing.

III. 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.

The correct answer is I, II and III.

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is an innovative technological approach designed to address climate change by extracting carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from ambient air. Here is a detailed breakdown of why all three statements are correct:

Statement I is correct:
One of the primary applications of Direct Air Capture is carbon sequestration. Once CO₂ is captured from the atmosphere, it can be purified, compressed, and injected deep underground into geological formations (such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or deep saline aquifers) where it is permanently stored. It can also undergo mineralization, turning into solid carbonate minerals. This process effectively removes greenhouse gases from the active carbon cycle, serving as an effective method for carbon sequestration.

Statement II is correct:
The captured carbon dioxide is a valuable industrial feedstock. Rather than storing it, the carbon can be utilized in various manufacturing processes. For instance, it can replace fossil fuel inputs in the synthesis of polymers and plastics. Additionally, in the food processing industry, high-purity CO₂ is widely used for carbonating beverages, dry ice production, flash freezing, and modified atmosphere packaging to extend shelf life.

Statement III is correct:
Aviation is a sector that is highly challenging to electrify due to energy density requirements. Direct Air Capture offers a pathway to produce synthetic, low-carbon fuels (often referred to as Sustainable Aviation Fuels or SAFs). By combining the captured CO₂ with hydrogen (ideally green hydrogen produced via water electrolysis powered by renewable energy), chemical processes such as the Fischer-Tropsch pathway can synthesize drop-in liquid fuels compatible with existing aviation infrastructure.