With reference to 'Direct Air Capture', an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct? It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing. 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.

Q 6 / 38

UPSC CSE Prelims 2025

With reference to 'Direct Air Capture', an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct?

It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration.
It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing.
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.

All three statements are correct.

Statement 1: Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology extracts carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from ambient air. This captured CO₂ can then be permanently stored in deep geological formations or integrated into durable products, thereby serving as a method of carbon sequestration.
Statement 2: The CO₂ captured through DAC can be utilized as a feedstock in various industrial processes. This includes the production of plastics and carbon fibers. In the food industry, it can be employed for carbonation in beverages and as a preservative.
Statement 3: In the context of aviation decarbonization, DAC-derived CO₂ can be combined with hydrogen (particularly green hydrogen) through Power-to-Liquid (PtL) processes. This synthesis yields low-carbon synthetic fuels (e-fuels), offering a pathway to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel.

Options (1) and (2) are incorrect because they exclude one or more statements that accurately describe the applications and potential of Direct Air Capture technology.
Option (4) is incorrect as all given statements correctly describe aspects of Direct Air Capture.

SOURCEEnvironment by Shankar IAS, Chapter: Climate Change Mitigation Strategies