Human Lungs: Carbon Removal CO2 Memzyme — Sandia National Laboratories

Biological model: Human lungs and pulmonary physiology

Company: Sandia National Laboratories

Carbon dioxide removal technology inspired by human lung gas exchange mechanisms for direct air capture.

The challenge

Atmospheric CO2 levels require direct air capture technology; current methods are energy-intensive; need more efficient gas separation.

Nature's strategy

Human lung alveolar gas exchange and selective gas transport.

What was emulated

Selective permeability to CO2 using enzyme-based chemistry.

The innovation

Bio-inspired enzyme-based membranes for direct air capture of CO2.

Full case study

Sandia National Laboratories developed Memzyme technology based on how human lungs efficiently extract oxygen from air and facilitate gas exchange. The technology uses enzyme-based membranes to selectively capture CO2 from ambient air through selective permeability and chemistry inspired by pulmonary processes.