Method For CO2 Capture Research Articles

Oxygen‐Stable Electrochemical CO2 Capture using Redox‐Active Heterocyclic Benzodithiophene Quinone

AbstractElectrochemical carbon capture offers a promising alternative to thermal amine technology, which serves as the traditional benchmark method for CO2 capture. Despite its technological maturity, the widespread deployment of thermal amine technologies is hindered by high energy consumption and sorbent degradation. In contrast, electrochemical methods, with their inherently isothermal operation, address these challenges, offering enhanced energy efficiency and robustness. Among emerging strategies, electrochemical carbon capture systems using redox‐active materials such as quinones stand out for their potential to capture CO2. However, their practical application is currently limited by their low stability in the presence of oxygen. We demonstrate that benzodithiophene quinone (BDT‐Q), a heterocyclic quinone, exhibits high stability in electrochemical carbon capture processes with oxygen‐containing feed gas. Conducted in a cyclic flow system with a simulated flue gas mixture containing 13 % CO2 and 3.5 % O2 for over 100 hours, the process demonstrates high oxygen stability with an electron utilization of 0.83 without significant degradation, indicating a promising approach for real world applications. Our study explores the potential of new heterocyclic quinone compounds in the context of carbon capture technologies.

Oxygen-Stable Electrochemical CO2 Capture using Redox-Active Heterocyclic Benzodithiophene Quinone.

Electrochemical carbon capture offers a promising alternative to thermal amine technology, which serves as the traditional benchmark method for CO2 capture. Despite its technological maturity, the widespread deployment of thermal amine technologies is hindered by high energy consumption and sorbent degradation. In contrast, electrochemical methods, with their inherently isothermal operation, address these challenges, offering enhanced energy efficiency and robustness. Among emerging strategies, electrochemical carbon capture systems using redox-active materials such as quinones stand out for their potential to capture CO2. However, their practical application is currently limited by their low stability in the presence of oxygen. We demonstrate that benzodithiophene quinone (BDT-Q), a heterocyclic quinone, exhibits high stability in electrochemical carbon capture processes with oxygen-containing feed gas. Conducted in a cyclic flow system with a simulated flue gas mixture containing 13 % CO2 and 3.5 % O2 for over 100 hours, the process demonstrates high oxygen stability with an electron utilization of 0.83 without significant degradation, indicating a promising approach for real world applications. Our study explores the potential of new heterocyclic quinone compounds in the context of carbon capture technologies.

Thermodynamic evaluation of a Ca-Cu looping post-combustion CO2 capture system integrated with thermochemical recuperation based on steam methane reforming

The calcium looping integrated with the chemical looping combustion (CaL-CLC) process is an efficient and cost-effective CO2 capture technology that avoids the energy-intensive air separation unit in the calcium looping (CaL) process. However, in these CaL-CLC and CaL system integration schemes, the carbonation heat is utilized for steam generation, resulting a significant temperature difference and considerable irreversible loss. To prevent temperature mismatch, this paper proposes a novel Ca-Cu looping post-combustion CO2 capture method with thermochemical recuperation based on steam methane reforming. Additionally, a novel system integrated with turbine exhaust heat recovery is introduced to effectively reduce carbon emissions from flue gas. Results show that the proposed system has superior performance compared to the reference system based on the Ca-Cu looping method. The specific primary energy consumption for CO2 avoidance decreased from 2.40 MJLHV/kg CO2 in the reference system to 2.02 MJLHV/kg CO2. Exergy analysis indicates that a total of 3.0 % reduction in exergy destruction can be achieved in chemical reaction processes and heat recovery processes, contributing to the superior performance of the proposed system. Furthermore, the effects of key operating parameters indicate that cascaded turbine exhaust recovery is essential for improving the thermodynamic efficiency of the proposed system. Overall, recovering the mid-temperature carbonation heat via thermochemical regeneration and integrating with exhaust heat recovery contribute to reducing SPECCA, thus providing a promising low-energy-consumption alternative for CO2 capture.

A novel Ca-Ni looping with carbonation heat thermochemical regeneration method for post-combustion CO2 capture: System integration, energy-saving mechanism, and performance sensitivity analysis

Thermal coupling between the calcium looping (CaL) process and chemical looping combustion (CaL-CLC) offers advantages to avoid electricity consumption of air separation, and the CaL-CLC has presented superior performance realizing CO2 capture. However, in these CaL-CLC and CaL configurations for post-combustion CO2 capture, the carbonation heat is recovered for steam generation with a significant temperature difference, leading to considerable irreversible loss. To prevent the temperature mismatch during carbonation heat recovery, this paper proposes the concept of Ca-Ni looping with the carbonation heat thermochemical regeneration method. Additionally, a novel system integrating with a combined cycle is introduced to effectively decarbonize flue gas. Results show that the proposed system has superior performance compared with the reference system based on the Ca-Cu looping method. The specific energy consumption for CO2 avoided (SPECCA) decreased from 2.13 MJ/kg CO2 in the reference system to 1.43 MJ/kg CO2. Exergy analysis indicates that a total 6.3 % exergy destruction reduction is realized by replacing the Cu-based chemical looping combustion with the Ni-based oxidation reaction for calcination heat supply. Furthermore, the energy utilization diagram (EUD) reveals the mechanism of exergy destruction reduction caused by the thermal coupling between reaction processes. Besides, the impact of key operating parameters on the proposed system performance is investigated. Overall, the proposed Ca-Ni looping with carbonation heat regeneration method enhances the utilization of mid-temperature carbonation heat by converting it into high-grade thermal energy suitable for combined cycles, thereby offering a promising alternative for low-energy-consumption CO2 capture.

Role of Intermolecular Interactions in Deep Eutectic Solvents for CO2 Capture: Vibrational Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies.

Recent research and reviews on CO2 capture methods, along with advancements in industry, have highlighted high costs and energy-intensive nature as the primary limitations of conventional direct air capture and storage (DACS) methods. In response to these challenges, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as promising absorbents due to their scalability, selectivity, and lower environmental impact compared to other absorbents. However, the molecular origins of their enhanced thermal stability and selectivity for DAC applications have not been explored before. Therefore, the current study focuses on a comprehensive investigation into the molecular interactions within an alkaline DES composed of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and ethylene glycol (EG). Combining Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and quantum chemical calculations, the study reports structural changes and intermolecular interactions induced in EG upon addition of KOH and its implications on CO2 capture. Experimental and computational spectroscopic studies confirm the presence of noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonds) within both EG and the KOH-EG system and point to the aggregation of ions at higher KOH concentrations. Additionally, molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) surface analysis, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules (QTAIM) analysis, and reduced density gradient-noncovalent interaction (RDG-NCI) plot analysis elucidate changes in polarizability, charge distribution, hydrogen bond types, noncovalent interactions, and interaction strengths, respectively. Evaluation of explicit and hybrid models assesses their effectiveness in representing intermolecular interactions. This research enhances our understanding of molecular interactions in the KOH-EG system, which are essential for both the absorption and desorption of CO2. The study also aids in predicting and selecting DES components, optimizing their ratios with salts, and fine-tuning the properties of similar solvents and salts for enhanced CO2 capture efficiency.

Production of green methane by carbon dioxide capture from landfill biogas via pressure swing adsorption mediated by MOF ZIF-8

The growing interest in biomethane (bioCH4) as a sustainable replacement for conventional fossil fuels highlights the urgency to develop efficient CO2 capture methods from raw biogas, thereby enhancing the value of this renewable fuel source. This study investigates the efficacy of ZIF-8 as an adsorbent for CO2 capture through pressure swing adsorption (PSA) under non-isothermal conditions. ZIF-8 was synthesized and characterized using SEM, BET, FTIR, and XRD to understand and confirm its microstructures. A computational model was developed to simulate the dynamic behavior of ZIF-8 during adsorption, incorporating insights from its characterization. The model, based on the extended Langmuir model for multicomponent adsorption, also accounted for adjustments in the adsorption bed geometry. Dynamic simulations were performed employing the Aspen Adsorption platform to assess the impact of key parameters such as the CH4/CO2 ratio, length/diameter ratio, and adsorption time on bioCH4 purity. Utilizing the Design of Experiments framework, central composite design (CCD), and desirability functions, the interplay of these parameters was optimized to enhance bioCH4 purity and recovery rates. The optimized PSA system, utilizing ZIF-8, demonstrated impressive purity of 99.93% and recovery of 96.5% at CH4/CO2 ratio of 2.06, a length/diameter ratio of 2.76, and an adsorption time of 115 s. These results meet stringent quality criteria for vehicle fuel, aligning with the most rigorous emission standards. For future investigations, it is crucial to explore the long-term stability and regeneration capabilities of ZIF-8 in large-scale applications. Understanding its practical feasibility and sustainability as an adsorbent for biogas upgrading will provide valuable insights for further advancements in this field.

CO2 solubility and physicochemical properties of 2-amino 2-methyl-1-propanol based solvents for post-combustion CO2 capture. Predictive modeling using machine learning

Global warming, caused by Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions from hard-to-abate industries, necessitates CO2 capture as one of the promising alternatives. Post-combustion CO2 capture (PCC) can be retrofitted for industries where chemical absorption using an amine-based solvent is an efficient method for CO2 capture. An essential factor for CO2 absorption in an amine mixture is the study of CO2 solubility and CO2 + Amine physicochemical properties to identify the more efficient solvents. Often experimental data are available in the literature, but precisemodeling is necessary to use such data for further utilization in a process-plant model. In this work, a blended solvent aqueous 2-amine-2methyl-1-Propanal (AMP) with Piperazine (PZ) and 1-(2-aminoethyl) piperazine (AEP) have been identified as a potential candidate for PCC application. The fundamental properties such as the density, viscosity and CO2 solubility in AMP + PZ and AMP + AEP blended solutions have been predicted by employing machine learning to get an exceptionally efficient model. This data-mining technique efficiently calculates solubility, density, and viscosity by using 691, 559, and 559 experimental data sets respectively, from the literature of AMP + PZ. Similarly, 120 data sets of solubility have been collected from the literature for AMP + AEP. Random Forest regression, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and XGBoost regression algorithms are adapted to predict CO2 solubility in aqueous AMP blended solution. The effectiveness of these models has been confirmed through statistical analysis, leading to the conclusion that XGBoost outperforms the other two approaches. Moreover, an identical approach has been employed to develop a predictive model for the density and viscosity of AMP + PZ solvent. The outcomes imply that the machine learning algorithm performs better with experimental data and may be utilised as an effective simulation tool.

Preparation of nano-Al2O3 support CaO-based sorbent pellets by novel methods for high-temperature CO2 capture

CaO-based sorbents show great promise as materials for CO2 capture. In this paper, three novel preparation methods were proposed to prepare three sorbent pellets based on carbide slag, respectively. The CO2 cyclic capture performance of the sorbent pellets was also investigated. These three novel preparations consist of different binders (agar, gelatine) and different hydrophobic materials (silicone oil, liquid paraffin and silicone mold), respectively. The capture performance of these three sorbent pellets was compared with that of sorbent pellet prepared by existing preparation methods, which used agar as a binder and silicone oil as a hydrophobic material. In addition, the effects of the contents of nano-Al2O3 supports on the sorbent pellets were explored. Among the four preparation methods, the sorbent pellets prepared with agar as binder and silicone mold as hydrophobic material showed exhibiting the highest total capture capacity of 7.70 gCO2/g during 15 cyclic captures. The nano-Al2O3 was used as support to alleviate the sintering of the sorbent pellets prepared with agar as binder and silicone mold as hydrophobic material, preserving most of the CO2 diffusion channels. Among the sorbent pellets with varying contents of nano-Al2O3 support, the pellets with a 10:100 molar ratio of nano-Al2O3 to CaO demonstrated excellent mechanical properties and the highest CO2 cycle capture performance. These pellets exhibited a capture capacity of 0.626 gCO2/g on the first cycle, maintaining a capacity of 0.503 gCO2/g by the 15th cycle. This work introduced a novel method for preparing sorbent pellets of efficient and stable cyclic capture.

Characterization of Humic Acid Salts and Their Use for CO2 Reduction

The European Union aims to be climate neutral by 2050. To achieve this ambitious goal, net greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 55% by 2030. Post-combustion CO2 capture methods are essential to reduce CO2 emissions from the chemical industry, power generation, and cement plants. To reduce CO2, it must be captured and then stored underground or converted into other valuable products. Apromising alternative for CO2 reduction is the use of humic acid salts (HASs). This work describes a process for the preparation of potassium (HmK) and ammonium (HmA) humic acid salts from oxidized lignite (leonardite). A detailed characterization of the obtained HASs was conducted, including elemental, granulometric, and thermogravimetric analyses, as well as 1H-NMR and IR spectroscopy. Moreover, the CO2 absorption capacity and absorption rate of HASs were experimentally investigated. The results showed that the absorption capacity of the HASs was up to 10.9 g CO2 per kg. The CO2 absorption rate of 30% HmA solution was found to be similar to that of 30% MEA. Additionally, HmA solution demonstrated better efficiency in CO2 absorption than HmK. One of the issues observed during the CO2 absorption was foaming of the solutions, which was more noticeable with HmK.

Performance of a novel CLOU oxygen carrier (CuO/ZrO2/TiO2/MgO) in the combustion of high-rank coal: Anthracite and bituminous

Coal is the largest contributor to global CO2 emissions, and current reserves are projected to last approximately 150 years, with 71.6 % being high-rank coals (anthracite and bituminous). Chemical looping combustion is an economical CO2 capture method that uses oxygen carrier materials to supply oxygen for combustion. Copper is the most reactive due to its oxygen uncoupling capability, though it has poor stability. In our research, we developed a novel modified copper-based oxygen carrier with enhanced stability in oxygen uncoupling cycles by increasing the ZrO2 ratio at the expense of TiO2 to reduce phase interactions. The modified oxygen carrier (40 % CuO, 30 % ZrO2, 15 % TiO2, 15 % MgO) was used to combust bituminous and anthracite coal in a fixed-bed system. While bituminous coal had a high combustion rate, its efficiency was 63 %, yielding 18 mol/kg of CO2, compared to 90 % efficiency and 56 mol/kg CO2 for anthracite. The lower efficiency for bituminous was due to the rapid release of volatiles. Adding steam improved bituminous combustion efficiency to 75 % and CO2 yield to 21 mol/kg, with no significant change for anthracite. A blend of 25 % bituminous and 75 % anthracite showed better combustion efficiency, rate, and CO2 yield. This blend test was stable over 10 cycles, as confirmed by SEM, XRD, and BET analyses.

Entropy‐Driven Carbon Dioxide Capture: The Role of High Salinity and Hydrophobic Monoethanolamine

Addressing atmospheric CO2 levels during the transition to carbon neutrality requires efficient CO2 capture methods. Aqueous amine scrubbing dominates large‐scale flue gas capture but is hampered by the energy‐intensive regeneration step, sorbent loss, and consequent environmental concerns with volatile amines. Herein, hydrophobic non‐volatile alkylated monoethanolamine (MEA) is introduced as a water‐lean CO2 absorbent in brine. The effects of alkylation of MEA, salinity, and aggregation of absorbents on the improved CO2 capture process are systematically investigated. The CO2 absorption facilitates spontaneous self‐aggregation of hydrophobic absorbents, which increases the entropy of water in high‐ion strength solutions. This effect is controlled by the salinity of aqueous solutions, affording comparative gravimetric CO2 uptake performance to benchmark MEA. It is experimentally verified that the hydrophobicity of alkylated MEAs in saline water is responsible for facile absorption, and also for mild regeneration conditions. Therefore, the entropy‐driven approach minimizes absorbent evaporation, corrosion, and decomposition, thus paving the way to realize energy‐efficient carbon capture.

Novel amine emissions control methods for CO2 capture based on reducing amine concentration in the scrubbing liquid

Piperazine (PZ) activated 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) is a high-performance solvent for CO2 capture that has undergone long-term pilot test. This study explores its vapor amine emissions characteristics on Aspen Plus. It was found that the steady-state amine concentration in the water wash (WW) is a crucial factor affecting emissions, determined by the amine-to-water ratio obtained from flue gas and feed water. Under optimized conditions, vapor amine emissions were reduced from 1768 mg/Nm3 after the absorber to 1.46 mg/Nm3 after two WW sections. Two novel amine control methods were proposed based on the approach of lowering the amine concentration in the scrubbing liquid. Staged condensation of the stripper gas provides super low amine (0.06 wt%) feed water to the WW, further reducing vapor amine emissions by an order of magnitude. The Cooling Dry Bed (CDB) can achieve amine emission control effects comparable to two WW sections with only 20 % of the theoretically calculated interfacial area. This process has a lower total packing height and does not require liquid collection trays, significantly reducing the construction height and load of the column.

(Invited) Challenges and Opportunities in the Integration of CO2 Capture and Conversion

Over the past 15 years or so, the electroreduction of CO2 for the synthesis of intermediates for the chemical industry as well as for the synthesis of small molecule fuels has become a very active area of research. Activities span the whole value chain from electro-catalyst synthesis and characterization, to electrode and cell design and optimization, as well as studies on techno-economic feasibility and life cycle assessment of envisioned overall processes. In the vast majority of these studies, >98% pure CO2 is being used as the feed. In reality, CO2 feeds captured from industrial flue gasses or even those captured from air may not be close to 100% in CO2.This presentation will explore the integration of a nanomembrane-based CO2 capture method with different CO2 electrolysis approaches. The nano-membrane-based CO2 capture is based on work by Fujikawa and Selyanchyn (Polymer J. 2021, 53, 111), using polydimethylsiloxane-derived membranes that are preferentially permeable to CO2 over nitrogen. Multistage arrangement of modules comprised of arrays of membranes allows for efficient concentration of CO2 from air, from 420 ppm to tens of percent, using just vacuum pumps to drive the process. We explore the use of these concentrated CO2 streams that still contain nitrogen and some oxygen as the feed in subsequent CO2 electrolysis conversions to CO, to methane, or to other products, depending on catalyst choice. We study the effects of feed composition, catalyst chosen, and cell configuration on product speciation, conversion efficiency, etc.

Experimental study on the influence of particle size and grain grading on the CO2 hydrate formation and storage process in porous media

CO2 sequestration in sediments as hydrate form is considered to be a promising way to achieve CO2 emission reduction in the atmosphere. The key problem with hydrate-based technology for CO2 geological storage is the evaluation of the formation process and gas storage capability of hydrate. In this study, the fundamental issue of different particle size and grain grading affected CO2 hydrate formation and storage characteristics in porous media was deeply analyzed. The effect of various particle sizes and grain grading on the gas consumption rate and gas storage capacity of CO2 hydrate were quantitatively illustrated. The results indicated that the hydrate formation is more difficult in porous media with tiny particle sizes. The gas storage capacity and gas consumption rate of CO2 hydrate increased as the particle size increased within a range of 10–63 μm. The maximum gas storage capacity attains 25.65 L/L when the particle size is 63 μm. Besides, compared with single particle size, porous media with grain gradation is adverse to hydrate formation. The results also show that, the obstruction effect on the gas consumption rate and gas storage capacity is more obvious with the increase of the differences in grain gradation. The cooperative impact of particle size and gradation on hydrate formation was studied. The closer the size of the mixed particles is, the more favorable to hydrate formation. The relevant results will aid in comprehending the hydrate formation properties in submarine sediments and will serve as an essential theoretical reference and guide for CO2 capture and sequestration hydrate-based method.

A comprehensive review of carbon dioxide sequestration: Exploring diverse methods for effective post combustion CO2 capture, transport, and storage

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a prominent anthropogenic greenhouse gas known for its detrimental impact on climate change and contribution to global warming. The significant rise in CO2 emissions has prompted extensive research into Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology. The primary objective of CCS technology is to mitigate CO2 levels in the atmosphere through the recovery of CO2 from industrial flue gases, achieved through three key stages: CO2 capture from flue gases, CO2 transport, and subsequent storage. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various techniques employed to remove CO2 from flue gases, focusing on physical, chemical and biological methods. The article included comprehensive information about the chemical process, including its benefits and limitations. An extensive overview of the biological and physical approaches was also provided. A brief discussion is given of the engineering aspects of CO2 transfer via pipelines and ships, as well as its storage alternatives (oceanic, geological, and mineralization).Through an analysis of these various approaches, this review directs scientists and researchers toward improving their comprehension and use of effective CO2 collection techniques, consequently tackling the problems associated with global warming.

Study on life-cycle carbon emission accounting of cane sugar products based on ammonia-based CO2 capture method

China’s cane sugar whole life cycle carbon accounting remains blank, which is urgent to formulate an emission reduction strategy. A life-cycle carbon accounting model for cane sugar products is established, with the carbon emission accounting conducted for planting, harvesting, transportation, processing, waste treatment, packaging, and other aspects of the cane sugar industry, which is multi-temporal and multi-scale. The quantitative and systematic assessment of carbon emissions from the cane sugar industry is accomplished. A new ammonia-based CO2 capture method has been innovatively proposed to achieve harmful carbon emission reduction from sugar products using sugar flue gas. The results show that the construction of the cane sugar life-cycle carbon accounting model can more accurately describe the comprehensive carbon footprint of the Chinese sugar industry. The carbon footprint of sucrose is −1.4259 CO2e/kg sugar, of which the highest carbon emission from agricultural fertilizers is 46.9 %. The new ammonia-based CO2 capture method enables 0.1319 t/t sugar of nitrogen fertilizer while achieving an overall reduction of 29 % in carbon emissions from sucrose, significantly reducing carbon emissions from agriculture. Its carbon footprint of cane sugar is greatly degraded to −2.1494 CO2e/kg sugar. The research provides a scientific basis for developing a carbon emission assessment for sugar while demonstrating that cane sugar has a sizeable carbon-negative potential in the future.

Analysis of cryogenic CO2 capture technology integrated with Water-Ammonia Absorption refrigeration cycle for CO2 capture and separation in cement plants

Utilizing post-combustion CO2 capture technologies is among the most effective pathways to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, especially in industries like cement production, where renewables alone cannot sufficiently reduce CO2 emissions. In such scenarios, cryogenic CO2 capture (CCC) emerges as an effective solution for capturing CO2 from both large and small unavoidable point sources. Renowned for its high energy efficiency, minimal investment and operational costs, as well as low energy penalties compared to conventional post-combustion CO2 capture methods, the CCC process can significantly contribute to achieving CO2 neutrality by 2050. This study investigates the application of the CCC process integrated with water-ammonia Absorption Refrigeration Cycle (ARC) for capturing CO2 from the flue gas emitted by a cement factory. This study demonstrated that the CCC process can effectively separate CO2 from the gas mixture in both liquid and gas phases while the form of the separated CO2 minimally affecting the energy penalty of the process. Furthermore, the results indicate that incorporating the ARC significantly enhances the performance of the CCC process, reducing its energy penalty by up to 6% without necessitating significant increases in equipment costs.

Techno-economic analysis of water-based CO2 capture method based on adiabatic compressed air energy storage: Comparison with monoethanolamine-based CO2 capture method

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage is considered an effective measure to mitigate climate change, used to reduce CO2 emissions from industrial sectors, especially for coal-fired power plants. In our previous work, a novel water-based CO2 capture (WCC) method based on adiabatic compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) was developed. This method is simple and environmentally friendly. However, unlike the widely used monoethanolamine (MEA)-based CO2 capture (MCC) technology, which consumes low-grade thermal energy, the WCC technology consumes high-grade electrical energy. Therefore, in this work, a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of the WCC technology is conducted and compared with the MCC technology from the perspective of carbon emission reduction. A universal economic assessment criterion of CO2 capture cost based on electricity prices is proposed, and the techno-economic analysis is based on the cost in 2022 USD ($). The result shows that the CO2 capture cost of the WCC system ranges from 53.74 to 71.70 $/tonne CO2 due to the different factors considered in computational models, taking 63.57%–84.81% of the MCC system under the same capture rate (85%). The dynamic payback period of the WCC system ranges from 7.14 years to 20.52 years, while the MCC system failed to recover capital throughout the entire lifecycle. Moreover, the CO2 capture cost of the WCC system can be reduced to below carbon tax (43 $/tonne CO2) when the CO2 concentration in the feed flue gas is above 18 vol%, achieving positive benefits with no carbon trading required, which means the WCC system can achieve positive profitability for higher CO2 concentration emission sectors. The results provide significant guidance for developing and promoting the WCC technology.

High ethane content enables efficient CO2 capture from natural gas by cryogenic distillation

Cryogenic CO2 capture technique is superior to other CO2 capture methods in terms of potential environmental protection, because it uses no chemical solvent or membrane materials that need regular replacement. However, the freezing problem of CO2 makes it difficult to achieve CO2 capture through simple gas–liquid separation, and the existing cryogenic CO2 capture techniques often require a specially designed separation equipment. In addition, cryogenic CO2 capture is generally considered a method with high energy consumption due to the need for refrigeration. This study proposes a cryogenic distillation-based CO2 capture method for natural gas with high ethane content, such as shale gas and oilfield associated gas. This method utilizes the azeotropic characteristics of CO2 and ethane to avoid CO2 freeze-out and the energy consumption for CO2 capture is minimized through process integration with natural gas liquefaction and ethane recovery. The proposed system uses the propane precooled mixed refrigerant process to provide the required refrigeration, and it is simulated in Aspen HYSYS and optimized by a combined method of a genetic algorithm and sequential optimization. The results show that the proposed process can remove up to 17 mol% of CO2 to less than 50 ppm. With extractive distillation, 99.50 % of the ethane in the feed gas is recovered with a purity of 99.50 mol%. The optimal results corresponding to the maximum allowable CO2 content to avoid its freeze-out (with a solubility margin of 500 ppm) show that when ethane content is 2–20 mol%, the specific power consumption of the system is about 0.43 kWh/Nm3(NG) with an exergy efficiency higher than 50 %. The proposed process achieves energy-saving and efficient CO2 capture method for natural gas with high ethane content.

Study on the adsorption mechanism of polar and non-polar VOCs by the activated carbon with surface oxygen

In this study, CO2 was converted to activated carbon by the molten salt CO2 capture and electrochemical conversion (MSCC-EC) method, and the surface oxygen content of the activated carbon was further modified for the adsorption of polar molecules (chlorobenzene) and nonpolar molecules (toluene), the role of the pore structure and surface O-containing functional groups of the adsorbents in contributing to the adsorption process was systematically investigated. The results showed that MS-AC500-10, MS-AC500-15, and MS-AC550-15 have rich pore structures with specific surface areas of 811.56 m2/g, 835.35 m2/g, 1249.104 m2/g, and surface oxygen contents of about 10 %, 15 %, 15 %, respectively. The toluene adsorption capacity of MS-AC500-10, MS-AC500-15, and MS-AC550-15 was 203.82 mg/g, 229.72 mg/g, and 358.97 mg/g, respectively, and was dominated by pore adsorption, which was positively proportional to the specific surface areas and pore volumes, the adsorption process belonged to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The adsorption amounts of chlorobenzene by MS-AC500-10, MS-AC500-15, and MS-AC550-15 were 287.98 mg/g, 363.11 mg/g, and 495.41 mg/g, respectively. In addition to the pore adsorption, the oxygen content on the surface of the adsorbents had a non-negligible promotion effect on the adsorption of chlorobenzene, mainly because chlorobenzene is a polar molecule, and the asymmetric electrons on its surface have strong interactions with the O-containing functional groups on the surface of the adsorbents. Moreover, the prepared adsorbents were thermally stable, and the decay rate of adsorption performance was less than 5 % after five adsorption–desorption cycles.