"We're very excited about this technology that may pave the way for a new process for carbon dioxide capture," said Dr Robert Perry of GE Global Research.

Amino silicones are used to condition damaged or hydrophilic hair -- as opposed to regular silicone which is hydrophobic and fails to adhere.

They are also used in fabric softeners and flexible high-temperature plastics.

Dr Perry and his colleagues have established that amino silicones could provide a less expensive and more efficient alternative to current CO2 scrubbers.

Lab tests show that amino silicones scrub more than 90 percent of the CO2 from simulated flue gases.

Now the imperative is to develop a commercially viable solution that removes and sequesters the CO2 from the amino silicones.

This would allow the amino silicones to be continuously recycled -- making the system even more cost-effective.

"The development of a low-cost solution for CO2 capture would go a long way in helping to address our clean energy goals," said Dr Perry.

"In the future, the gases that come out of power-plant smokestacks will be virtually free of carbon dioxide emissions."