Wood that traps carbon dioxide could make buildings cleaner and greener

Engineered wood has been created that is capable of trapping carbon dioxide by incorporating a metal–organic framework (MOF). The resultant material, which exhibited greater strength than untreated wood, could make the construction industry more energy efficient and environmentally friendly by lowering emissions and costs, the researchers claim.

‘The manufacturing of structural materials such as metals or cement represents a significant source of industrial carbon emissions,’ noted materials scientist and nanoengineer Muhammad Rahman, an assistant research professor at Rice University in Texas who is the study’s corresponding author. ‘Our process is simpler and “greener” in terms of both substances used and processing byproducts.’