Making the

Earth
Greener:
Absorption of
Carbon
dioxide [CO2]
from the
exhaust pipes
of vehicles
with the use
of Sodium
hydroxide
[NaOH]
Question:
How can you even filter CO2 is it even possible?

Hypothesis:
Carbon dioxide should be successfully filtered by
the use of Sodium Hydroxide.
Background
Information:
When sodium hydroxide is fixed in the excess
Gas outlet of the vehicle, it will absorb the
carbon dioxide therefore forming sodium
carbonate [washing soda] and a by product being
water [H2O]. From sodium carbonate, we can
manufacture detergents. soaps, borax, sodium
phosphate and so on.

Materials :
Sodium Hydroxide
Metholodgy:
At first consistent of appropriate sizes based on
the type of vehicle is fixed to the exhaust gas
outlet [silencer] then the canisters are filled with
sodium hydroxide.The concentration of sodium
hydroxide should be 7.2 to 7.4M so that it will
absorb the carbon dioxide easily ,so when the
vehicle is in motion combustion takes place and
exhaust comes out from the exhaust pipe.
As the canisters filled with sodium hydroxide
are fixed in the exhaust pipe at the right
temperature Sodium hydroxide will absorb the
carbon dioxide forming into sodium carbonate the
reaction get stopped when the temperature of
exhaust gas is much more than the optimum
temperature. The maximum temperature of
exhaust gas from vehicles is around 650 Celsius
so that means the use of coolant or EGR[exhaust
gas recirculation] will occur.
Calculations
The molecular weight of carbon dioxide is 44g
and that of sodium hydroxide is 39.9g.
The reaction between them is :
2NaOH + CO2 Na2CO3 + H2O
Therefore meaning that we need 2 moles of
NaOH .
39.9g + 39.9g = 79.8g .
So 79.8g will absorb 44g of carbon dioxide.
In 1km, 120g of carbon is produced and in
5km[120 × 5] 600g of carbon dioxide is produced.
To find how many grams of NaOH is needed to
absorb 600g of carbon, this will be done.

79.8g = 44g
xg = 600g [ cross multiplication]

79.8g × 600g = 47880 ÷ 44g = 1088g

Therefore 1088g of NaOH will absorb 600g of
CO2 . With this information it is known that in
5km, 600g of carbon is produced and 1088g of
the hydroxide will filter it. This can be used to
calculate the amount of sodium hydroxide we will
need to absorb carbon dioxide in a journey.

Results
So in the experiment that was carried out, the
carbon dioxide was sucked in by the dilute sodium
hydroxide leaving the bottle squeezed and
because the reaction was exothermic, heat was
given off.
Conclusion
In all that was done, it is shown that sodium
hydroxide can efficiently absorb carbon dioxide.
Meaning this can be applied to vehicles.

Project Established by: Isabella O. Ayonote

Gabriel Sam Ode