New findings will help CO2 storage development
Scottish scientists have found an inexpensive way to monitor safe storage of greenhouse gases from industrial sources.
They said the findings will help in the development of carbon capture and storage technology, which involves injecting carbon dioxide produced by power stations and factories deep underground to prevent emissions driving climate change.
In the first study of its kind, researchers have discovered that carbon dioxide has a distinctive chemical fingerprint, depending on its source. They found gas produced from fossil fuels can be distinguished from that found naturally.
This means gases stored in underground rock formations would not need to have expensive chemical tracers added in order to monitor that it was effectively contained.