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The technology shows efficient adsorption kinetics, is energy efficient, tunable, scalable and has a simple regeneration of heat transfer.
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Stanford Reference: 12-500 Abstract A multidisciplinary team of Stanford researchers have developed a new class of tunable, zinc-based sorbents that use catalytic carbonate chemistry to efficiently capture carbon in the presence of water vapor. This biomimetic sorbent simulates the function of carbonic anhydrase, a natural enzyme for hydrating and dehydrating carbon. The functionalized substrate is designed to capture carbon from flue gas 6-8 orders of magnitude faster than conventional amine scrubbing technologies, without the energetic expense of heating water. Also, because the carbon capture is a chemical mechanism (compared with zeolite or metal-organic framework-based sorbents with a physical adsorption mechanism), they do not require an additional step to separate water from CO2. These scalable biomimetic materials are particularly well-suited to capture carbon in coal-fired or natural gas power plants with significant water vapor in the flue gas. Stage of Research The inventors have synthesized and tested several functionalized sorbents for proof-of-principle studies. Applications Sorbent-based carbon capture for coal-fired or natural gas process power plants Advantages Efficient adsorption kinetics: designed to capture carbon up to 6 orders of magnitude faster than conventional amine scrubbing technologies selectively removes CO2 from flue gas in the presence of water Energy efficient - no water needed (compared with amine scrubbing where heating water is the greatest energetic expense) Tunable - flexible tuning of the mesoporous structure can optimize the material for different applications and capture conditions Scalable - substrate is high surface area mesoporous carbon-based material with high working capacity Simple regeneration: easy heat transfer compared with physical adsorption mechanisms, this biomimetic substrate does not require an additional step to separate water from CO2 Related Web Links Bao Lab Stack Lab Wilcox Lab Patent Status Issued: 9,155,996 (USA) Related Keywords carbon capture remediation materials: polymer chemical: catalyst clean energy coal-fired plants power plants adsorbents