ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Carbon capture using membrane-based materials and its utilization pathways

Chirantan Shah, Shishir Raut, Harshal Kacha, Harshil Patel, and Manan Shah

Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University , Gandhinagar, India

E-mail: manan.shah@spt.pdpu.ac.in

Received: 1 January 2021  Accepted: 22 April 2021

Abstract:

Various technologies including carbon capture and utilization or sequestration (CCUS) have been defined to achieve sustainability. CCUS aims to reduce global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions to tackle climate change by capturing carbon at the source of emission and prevent its entry into the atmosphere. The captured carbon is then either utilized in industries or sequestered geologically. CO₂ capture is accomplished by employing several methods like the use of membranes, chemical looping, cryogenic distillation, etc. Membranes provide a more effective and economic alternative as compared to the options that exist currently. Hence, in this paper we try to scrutinise the properties of certain mixed matrix membranes (MMM), alumina and zeolite-based membranes among others with respect to their selectivity towards flue gases, hoping to provide a broader understanding of current technology. The potential use of ionic liquids (ILs) to enhance properties of membranes will also be discussed. Next, this paper investigates the existing as well as possible carbon utilization pathways. Existing pathways include the usage of CO₂ in the manufacturing of fertilizers, urea, methanol, oil and gas recovery in addition to water desalination projects and electrochemical conversion to certain chemicals. While we observe that ILs and MMMs provide good alternatives, an extensive further research is, however, still required for implementation of these ideas on an industrial scale.

Keywords: Anthropogenic; Carbon capture; Membranes; MMM; Zeolite; Pathways; Urea; Fertilizer

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-021-01674-z

Chemical Papers 75 (9) 4413–4429 (2021)