An Electrochemical CO <sub>2</sub> Capture Cell Enhanced by Biological Proton‐Carrier Assisted Water Splitting

Abstract

Carbon capture and storage (CCS), in which COSub>2 is selectively removed and sequestrated from flue gas, is a promising strategy to mitigate CO2 emission and global warming. In a classical CCS process, the CO2 capture involves an energy consuming absorbent regeneration step by thermal decomposition (2.0–4.0GJ/tonne CO2), and accounts for the majority (60~70%) of the total cost. Here we exploit an alternative, electrochemical method to regenerate CO2 absorbent. This method capitalizes on a water‐splitting process facilitated by the proton‐coupled electron transfer properties of a biological proton‐carrier — riboflavin 5′‐monophosphate sodium salt hydrate (FMN). This new process demonstrates lower energy consumption (53 kWh/tonne CO2) of the CO2 capture than traditional approaches that employing MEA absorbent (370–510 kWh/tonne CO2).