Showing posts with label solutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solutions. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 01, 2025

AI On Methane Removal from the Atmosphere - ChatGPT & Microsoft CoPilot

While taking an update of the EnRoads Climate Simulator class I was inspired to ask ChatGPT:

https://chatgpt.com/share/686493df-f7d4-8003-a6a5-2b063a073058

"Atmospheric Methane Removal - What are the most effective techniques, technologies and pratices to remove excess methane from theatmosphere for the purpose of reducing global boiling?"

Note: Two Amazon Associate Affiliate book links plus video below added for more information.

 


Chat GPT Responded

"Atmospheric methane removal (AMR) is a critical climateintervention strategy, as methane (CH₄) is over 80 times more potent than CO₂ over a 20-year period. Reducing methane levels can rapidly slow global warming—aka global boiling. Here's a breakdown of the most promising techniques, technologies, and practices for removing excess methane from the atmosphere:


๐Ÿ”ฌ 1. Atmospheric Oxidation Enhancement (Tropospheric Oxidation Boosting)

✅ Most Scalable & Passive Removal Method

How it works:

Enhance the natural breakdown of methane in the atmosphere by boosting hydroxyl radicals (OH), the atmosphere’s primary methane sink.

Techniques:

  • Iron salt aerosols (ISA): Spraying iron(III) chloride into the atmosphere enhances OH production via photochemical reactions, accelerating CH₄ breakdown.
  • Photocatalysts: Engineered nanomaterials that, when airborne or on surfaces, convert methane into CO₂ or methanol using sunlight.

Pros:

  • Leverages natural chemistry
  • Potential for large-scale, passive deployment
  • Could be cost-effective at scale

Cons:

  • Needs thorough environmental impact analysis
  • Risk of unintended climate or health effects (e.g., changes in cloud cover or air chemistry)

๐Ÿ”ฅ 2. Methane Capture at Emission Sources

✅ First line of defense; reduces new methane entering atmosphere

Technologies:

  • Biogas digesters (agriculture)
  • Landfill gas capture systems
  • Oil & gas sector leak detection and repair (LDAR)
  • Methane oxidizing biofilters in farms or coal mines

Pros:

  • Well-established
  • High return on investment
  • Prevents methane before it reaches the atmosphere

Cons:

  • Doesn’t remove existing atmospheric methane
  • Requires enforcement, maintenance, and incentives

๐Ÿงช 3. Catalytic Methane Oxidation in Air

๐Ÿ” Emerging direct removal approach

How it works:

Use engineered catalysts (like zeolites, manganese oxide, or copper-based systems) that oxidize methane in air at low concentrations (~1.9 ppm).

Example:

  • MIT’s zeolite-based catalyst operates at room temperature and captures methane efficiently from dilute air sources.

Pros:

  • Could be installed in ventilation systems, greenhouses, or livestock areas
  • Works continuously

Cons:

  • Currently limited to localized or small-scale settings
  • Not yet cost-effective for full atmospheric scale

๐ŸŒฑ 4. Methanotrophic Microorganisms

๐Ÿงฌ Nature-based solution

How it works:

Methanotrophs are bacteria that consume methane as an energy source. Bioengineered or enhanced methanotrophs could be deployed in soils, wetlands, landfills, or bioreactors.

Pros:

  • Regenerative and carbon-negative
  • Can be combined with biochar for soil health

Cons:

  • Limited by methane concentration in open air
  • Requires precise environmental control

๐ŸŒฌ️ 5. Enhanced Natural Sinks (Soil, Wetlands)

๐ŸŒ Eco-restoration with climate co-benefits

Techniques:

  • Wetland rehydration with careful methane management
  • Restoring forest soils that host methane-consuming microbes
  • Grazing & agricultural land practices that boost methanotrophic activity

Pros:

  • Supports biodiversity and water cycling
  • Co-benefits for local communities

Cons:

  • Complex monitoring and land management
  • Some wetlands emit methane if not managed correctly

๐Ÿงฏ 6. Flared or Burned Methane Conversion

๐Ÿ”ฅ Converts CH₄ to CO₂ (a weaker greenhouse gas)

Used mainly at high-concentration sources:

  • Flare stacks at oil/gas facilities
  • Methane-to-electricity systems (microturbines, fuel cells)

Pros:

  • Fast deployment
  • Reduces overall warming potential

Cons:

  • Not suitable for dilute atmospheric methane
  • Still emits CO₂

๐Ÿ“ˆ Deployment Priorities

For methane removal to meaningfully reduce global boiling:

  1. Stop new emissions first (oil & gas, agriculture, waste).
  2. Scale oxidation technologies like ISA and photocatalysis.
  3. Invest in microbial and catalytic R&D for direct removal.
  4. Global governance needed to regulate and coordinate deployment (e.g., geoengineering treaties or methane markets).

๐Ÿš€ Notable Research & Initiatives

  • MethaneSAT (Environmental Defense Fund): tracking methane leaks
  • Blue Dot Change: developing ISA field tests
  • MIT & Yale labs: advancing methane-to-methanol catalysts
  • U.S. DOE ARPA-E REMEDY program: supports methane mitigation R&D

๐Ÿงญ Final Word

While methane removal from the air is still in early stages, the science is progressing quickly. Combined with emission reductions, methane removal offers one of the fastest levers to cool the planet over the next two decades."

I then asked Microsoft CoPilot the same question

Microst CoPilot responded

"๐ŸŒ Atmospheric Methane Removal: A Strategic Overview

Methane is over 80 times more potent than CO₂ over a 20-year period, making it a critical target for near-term climate action. While its atmospheric lifetime is relatively short (7–12 years), its warming potential is intense—so removing it can yield rapid cooling benefits.

Here’s a breakdown of the most promising techniques, technologies, and practices for methane removal and mitigation:


๐Ÿ”ฌ Atmospheric Removal Technologies

These aim to accelerate natural methane breakdown in the atmosphere:

  • Iron Salt Aerosols (ISA)

    • Dispersed into the atmosphere to generate chlorine radicals that oxidize methane into CO₂ and water.
    • Mimics natural oceanic processes.
    • Promising for large-scale deployment, though environmental impacts are still under study.
  • Photocatalytic Oxidation

    • Uses sunlight-activated materials (e.g., titanium dioxide) to break down methane.
    • Can be applied to building surfaces or infrastructure.
    • Still in early research stages.
  • Thermal-Catalytic Oxidation

    • High-temperature systems using catalysts to convert methane to CO₂.
    • More suited for high-concentration methane zones (e.g., near landfills or farms).
  • Direct Air Capture for Methane

    • Similar to CO₂ capture but more challenging due to methane’s lower concentration (~1.9 ppm).
    • Experimental filters and membranes are being developed.

๐ŸŒฑ Biological & Soil-Based Approaches

  • Methanotrophic Bacteria

    • Naturally occurring microbes that consume methane.
    • Can be enhanced in soils or biofilters near emission sources.
    • Potential for integration into regenerative agriculture.
  • Soil Management

    • Practices that promote methane-oxidizing microbes in wetlands, rice paddies, and forests.
    • Includes adjusting water levels and organic matter inputs.

๐Ÿญ Source-Based Mitigation (Prevention is Easier than Cure)

While not atmospheric removal per se, these prevent methane from entering the atmosphere:

  • Agriculture

    • Feed additives (e.g., seaweed) to reduce livestock methane.
    • Alternate wetting and drying in rice paddies.
    • Manure management systems.
  • Waste Management

    • Landfill gas capture and utilization.
    • Composting and anaerobic digestion to reduce organic waste emissions.
  • Fossil Fuel Sector

    • Leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs.
    • Methane capture from coal mines and oil/gas infrastructure.

๐ŸŒก️ Impact Potential

According to Stanford-led modeling, removing just three years’ worth of human-caused methane emissions could:

  • Reduce global temperatures by ~0.21°C
  • Prevent ~50,000 premature deaths annually by improving air quality"

What do you think? Please post your thoughts below. Together we can clean up this mess called global boiling and co-create a global healing. We must overcome. 


 

 

 



Thursday, August 15, 2024

Revisiting the Case for Ibogaine: Addressing the Addiction Crisis


 Revisiting the Case for Ibogaine / Iboga:
Addressing the Addiction Crisis

In 2014, I advocated to the LDS Church for consideration of ibogaine or iboga as a solution to our drug addiction problem. Ten years later, the urgency to address drug addiction has only intensified, with addiction contributing to societal sorrows and hindering global efforts to combat our climate crisis and other urgent issues. 

This updated blog entry explores why ibogaine remains a promising solution, the current state of the addiction crisis, the societal benefits of solving it, and strategies to empower this effective drug addiction treatment.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, the USA's CDC

"About Overdose Prevention
What to know

Drug overdoses dramatically increased over the last two
decades, with deaths increasing more than 500%
between 1999 and 2022.
Deaths involving multiple drugs
(i.e., polysubstance overdose deaths) also increased.

Drug overdose death disparities are widening.

Substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs),
especially those that lead to drug overdose deaths,
are prominent public health issues."

Why Ibogaine?

Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance derived from the Tabernanthe iboga plant that has shown remarkable potential in treating addiction, particularly to opioids

Unlike traditional treatments, most with low success rates for breaking addictions for long periods of time, ibogaine disrupts the cycle of addiction by resetting the brain's reward system, reducing withdrawal symptoms, and addressing the psychological roots of addiction. This holistic approach offers a new path for those trapped in the cycle of substance abuse, solving the problem at the level of cause.


The Escalating Addiction Crisis

National and international drug addiction rates have reached alarming levels. 

In the United States, opioid overdoses remain a leading cause of death, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl exacerbating the crisis. Globally, addiction is intertwined with social instability, poverty, and crime, making it a multifaceted challenge that requires innovative solutions. The addiction crisis is not just a health issue; it's a societal one, with far-reaching impacts on communities, economies, and the environment.

Societal Benefits of Solving Addiction

Addressing addiction can yield profound societal benefits. Reducing addiction rates would alleviate the burden on healthcare systems, reduce crime, and improve community well-being. Moreover, by restoring individuals to their full potential, society can harness the talents and energies of those who might otherwise be lost to addiction. In the context of our current climate crisis, this is particularly crucial. We need every capable hand to contribute to the global effort to restore ecological balance, and helping those struggling with addiction is a step toward that goal.


Strategies for Including Ibogaine in Treatment

To integrate ibogaine into the mainstream, we must first advocate for further research and clinical trials to solidify its efficacy and safety profile. Governments and health organizations need to recognize ibogaine as a viable treatment option and create regulatory frameworks that allow for its controlled use. Additionally, education campaigns are essential to inform both healthcare providers and the public about ibogaine's potential.

Collaborating with religious and community organizations, like the United Nations and the missionaries at the LDS Church, can also play a pivotal role in destigmatizing addiction and promoting ibogaine as a treatment option. These organizations often have the reach and influence needed to shift public perception and policy. By framing addiction treatment as both a moral imperative and a practical necessity, we can mobilize broader support for innovative solutions like ibogaine.

Conclusion

The addiction crisis is a pressing issue that demands new approaches. Ibogaine offers a promising solution that not only addresses the symptoms of addiction but also tackles its root causes. As we face unprecedented challenges, including the global climate crisis, it is imperative that we empower every individual to contribute positively to society. By supporting ibogaine research and integration, we can make strides in solving the addiction crisis and, in turn, strengthen our collective ability to address the broader challenges facing humanity.

 

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