New technique to capture CO2 could reduce power plant greenhouse gases

A big advance in carbon capture technology could provide an efficient and inexpensive way for natural gas power plants to remove carbon dioxide from their flue emissions, a necessary step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow global warming and climate change.

Developed by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and ExxonMobil, the new technique uses a highly porous material called a metal-organic framework, or MOF, modified with nitrogen-containing amine molecules to capture the CO₂ and low temperature steam to flush out the CO₂ for other uses or to sequester it underground.

In experiments, the technique showed a six times greater capacity for removing CO₂ from flue gas than current amine-based technology, and it was highly selective, capturing more than 90% of the CO₂ emitted. The process uses low temperature steam to regenerate the MOF for repeated use, meaning less energy is required for carbon capture.

Read more at University of California, Berkeley

Image Credit: International Energy Agency

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