Continuous process for capturing CO2 from a flow by adsorpption and regeneration using solid countercurrent adsorbent cells

ISSUE ADDRESSED

It is now well known that achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement requires a significant reduction in GHG emissions. Initially, this requires an improvement in energy efficiency as well as the massive deployment of so-called clean energies. However, by their nature, it is clear that several industries will be difficult to decarbonize in the short to medium term (e.g. steel and cement production, air transport). To neutralize these unavoidable GHG emissions, the United Nations Environment Program estimates that, in these situations, it will be necessary to capture the CO2 at the emission source, when possible, or directly from the atmosphere.

 

CO2 capture followed by sequestration is a category of negative emissions that aims to remove CO2 from the atmosphere using physicochemical separation processes. According to forecasts by the International Energy Agency (IEA), it is estimated that by 2050 the capture of CO2 directly from the atmosphere will have to reach a level of nearly 1 billion tonnes of CO2 per year.

 

It should be noted that Canada has already committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and has adopted a carbon tax that will reach $170/tCO2 in 2030. It goes without saying that this market will have to grow considerably over time. over the next few decades to achieve the global goals.
 

Although some CO2 capture technologies are already in development, these conventional processes are still too expensive and exceed $500/tCO2. New technologies such as the one presented below are required to properly anchor
to this emerging market for atmospheric CO2 capture.

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TECHNOLOGY

The proposed technology is an integrated capture and sequestration system comprising a modular device for capturing CO2 from the atmosphere or industrial effluents. The system uses a CO2 capture process, based on specially designed porous materials, in a continuous cycle of adsorption and regeneration. The adsorbent material is functionalized so as to offer a large capture surface on a limited volume, which makes it possible to fix the CO2 molecules present in the treated gas quickly and efficiently. By modifying the surrounding pressure and temperature conditions of the material, the captured CO2 is then released in the form
concentrated. Once released from the material, the high purity CO2 can then be used or sequestered. Sequestration can, among other things, take place by a low-temperature carbonation chemical reaction, which causes the CO2 dissolved in the water to react with finely ground mining or industrial debris. This system can be installed directly on an industrial or mining site with the process powered 100% by electricity, including renewable hydroelectricity from Hydro-Québec.

 

In the era of the ecological shift, this innovation is therefore part of a very favorable socio-economic context whose market trend is growing rapidly. This innovation was also awarded at the COP26 conference in Glasgow in November 2021, during which it seduced the jury of the prestigious international competition XPRIZE Carbon Removal and won a prize of US$250K in order to continue its marketing.

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Technology Readiness Level

Maturity level 5 in 2022: validation of the technology in a representative environment. Basic technological components are integrated with reasonably realistic elements so that the technology can be tested in a simulated environment. Projected production of the commercial system with a capacity of 1000 tCO2/year in 2027

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BENEFITS

COMMERCIAL BENEFITS

• Low capture and sequestration costs ($50-150/tCO2)

  • Due to reduction in OPEX and CAPEX​

  • Due to all technical advantages (see next section)

• Low operating costs (OPEX):

  • More efficient system requiring less energy​

• Low investment costs (CAPEX):

  • Configuration requiring less adsorbent materials​

  • System modularity and easy scaling

• Flexibility of the system allowing to be relocated​

• Modularity and scalability of the system based on a single autonomous capture unit that can be adapted to needs by adding units.

• High concentration CO2 production (>90%)

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TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES

• High process performance:

  • continuous process

  • optimal heat recovery

  • no thermal cycling of the reactors

  • minimization of flow pressure losses

  • minimizing the amount of adsorbent materials required 

  • low temperature regeneration

• Integrated solution for capture and sequestration in situ.

• Versatility allows the decontamination of asbestos mining residues via the sequestration of CO2 by carbonation.

• Universality applicable to a wide range of CO2 concentrations.

• Synergy when coupled with industrial and sequestration systems

  • Revalues low temperature thermal discharges (T≈100°C)​

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APPLICATIONS

• Capture of CO2 directly from the atmosphere

• CO2 capture from major emitters

  • E.g.: Manufacturing, mining, petroleum, etc.

• Distribution of high purity CO2 (>90%) for use or sequestration

• Offset carbon credits

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY STATUS

Patent application Canada, United States, Europe, China, System and Method for Continuous Gas Adsorbate Capture using Adsorption/Regeneration Cycle)

 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Collaborative research for the development of a prototype

• Business partners

• First-time adopters

• Funding

Project Director: Josianne Vigneault​