Background
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasizes the urgent need to remove CO2 from the atmosphere by the end of the century to limit global warming to below 2 °C. Direct Air Capture (DAC) is essential in all scenarios to meet this target, requiring the removal of about 1,000 gigatons of CO2. DAC systems use chemical sorbents either solid or liquid to capture CO2 from the air, with their efficiency depending on both chemical properties and physical form factors. These form factors involve structural modifications or support materials which significantly impact sorbent performance and are key to the technical and economic viability of DAC technologies.
Invention Description
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a novel approach to direct air capture (DAC) by utilizing an optimized polyester mesh combined with specific thermal swing sorbents. It operates by absorbing CO2 at ambient temperatures and releasing it at higher temperatures, this setup significantly increases the CO2 uptake rate by maximizing air contact with the sorbent, facilitated by a specific surface area to sorbent mass ratio. This process enables faster CO2 uptake and improved efficiency in carbon capture processes.
Potential Applications:
- Biogas Upgrading Industry
- Beverage Carbonation Production
- Environmental Compliance Services
Benefits and Advantages:
- Effective - Significantly increased CO2 absorption rates
- Versatile - Modular design adaptable to various DAC systems
- Temperature Swing Mechanism – Efficient for CO2 absorption and desorption
