Plastic 'Sponge' Could Help Biofuels Scrub CO2 From the Environment

A new plastic membrane could be key to making biofuels a viable and clean fuel alternative to natural gas and coal.

The membrane could be a major advance in carbon capture -- it's four times better than current technologies at separating out CO2 one of the main culprits in global warming.

The plastic acts as a molecular sponge allowing only carbon dioxide to pass into it while preventing larger molecules like methane from following suit. We've made a better mousetrap said Benny Freeman a University of Texas at Austin professor and co-author of a report on the material in Friday's issue of Science.

The plastic can handle 500 times more fuel than regular membranes while separating out molecules more efficiently Freeman said.