Research Projects - Carbon Capture

United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) (East Hartford, CT) will develop membrane technology for separating CO2 from flue gas streams using synthetic forms of carbonic anhydrase, (CA), which natural systems use to manage CO2. Recent academic research has created synthetic analogue molecules for elucidation of CA carbonic anhydrase enzyme mechanisms which are more robust in harsh environments. UTRC will team with Columbia University, CM-Tech, Hamilton Sundstrand and Worley Parsons in this program.

Pilot Scale Testing of Carbon Negative, Product Flexible Syngas Chemical Looping

A novel process known as Syngas Chemical Looping (SCL), in which coal and biomass are converted to electricity and CO2 is efficiently captured, has been successfully demonstrated on a laboratory scale. In this project, the SCL process , will be scaled up to a 250 kW pilot plant for a planned demonstration at the National Carbon Capture Center. Teaming with project lead Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) in this project are PSRI, CONSOL Energy, Shell/CRI, and Babcock and Wilcox to accelerate this promising technology towards commercialization and deployment.

Carbon Nanotube Membranes for Energy-Efficient Carbon Sequestration

Porifera, Inc., (Hayward, CA) Inc will lead a team including the University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that will integrate carbon nanotubes with polymer membranes to increase the flux of CO2 capture membranes by up to 100x. Physical and chemical modifications to the carbon nanotubes will be used to increase the selectivity of the membrane for CO2. The program objective is to demonstrate a more efficient and economical means of carbon capture over current state of the art amine technology.

Energy Efficient Capture of CO2 from Coal Flue Gas

Nalco Company (Naperville, IL) and will partner with Argonne National Laboratory and the Western Research Institute have partnered to develop an electrochemical process for CO2 capture. A technique known as Resin-Wafer Electrodeionization (RW-EDI) leverages control of pH to adsorb and desorb CO2 from flue gas without the need for heating or a vacuum. The objective is to drastically reduce the current parasitic power loss of 30% that is currently associated with carbon capture from flue gas.

Electric Field Swing Adsorption for Carbon Capture Applications

Scientists at Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA) will seek to develop a novel carbon capture technique based upon Electric Field Swing Adsorption (EFSA), is a technique that takes advantage of the ability of electric fields to change the interaction of molecules on a surface. In this project, EFSA will be applied to high surface area conductive solid carbon sorbents for the adsorption and desorption of CO2 across a wide range of process conditions. The EFSA technique has the potential for drastically reduced parasitic load compared with current carbon capture methodologies.