With reference to 'Direct Air Capture', an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct? I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration. II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing. III. 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.
Explanation:
Statement I: Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere. This captured CO2 can then be permanently stored in geological formations (carbon sequestration) to remove it from the carbon cycle. This statement is correct. Statement II: Captured CO2 can be utilized as a feedstock for various industrial applications. This includes its use in some types of plastic production (e.g., certain polymers like polycarbonates) and in food processing (e.g., carbonation of beverages, production of dry ice, or as a growth enhancer in greenhouses). While these might not be the largest-scale applications, CO2 *can* be a valuable input for these sectors. This statement is correct. Statement III: One of the promising applications of captured CO2 from DAC is its conversion into synthetic fuels, often referred to as e-fuels or Power-to-Liquid fuels. By combining captured CO2 with green hydrogen (produced from renewable electricity), synthetic hydrocarbons can be created, which can then be refined into low-carbon aviation fuels, marine fuels, or other liquid fuels. This is a key strategy for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like aviation. This statement is correct. Explanation: All three statements accurately describe potential uses and benefits of Direct Air Capture technology and the CO2 it captures.