HiPerCap: Developing Breakthrough Technologies for the future post-combustion CO₂ capture plants

This project aims to develop high-potential novel and environmentally benign technologies and processes for post-combustion CO₂ capture leading to real breakthroughs. The project includes all main separation technologies for post-combustion CO₂ capture; absorption, adsorption and membranes. For each technology we will focus on chosen set of promising concepts (four for absorption, two for adsorption and two for membranes). We aim to achieve 25% reduction in efficiency penalty compared to a demonstrated state-of-the-art capture process in the EU project CESAR and deliver proof-of-concepts for each technology.

• Absorption: we will focus on enzyme catalysis, precipitating solvents, strong bicarbonate formers and combined CO₂ capture and utilization. The common denominator between these four different routes is the use of bicarbonate formation as the main driver for the reactive absorption of CO₂. Regarding
• Adsorption: we will focus on the development of solid adsorbents applicable for moving bed reactors and development of a structured solid monolith sorbent. For both types of adsorbents, we will develop processes with optimized heat-integration and low pressure-drop.
• Membrane separation: we will develop two types of membranes and associated post-combustion concepts. These two types of membranes are 1) high flux mixed matrix membrane based on incorporation of nanoparticles in a polymer and 2) supported ionic liquid membranes. In the latter case we will study two different types of membranes, but a process concept will only be developed for the most promising.

Detailed knowledge concerning the chemical binding mechanism is imperative for the development of breakthrough post combustion capture processes. Chemical binding/interaction of CO₂ with different materials is of relevance not only for absorption, but also for adsorption and membrane based separation processes. Therefore, to support the research activities related to absorption, adsorption and membrane technologies in HiPerCap, we will identify chemical functional groups with high, reversible, capacity to bind CO₂. As a starting point we will be exploring bio-mimicking systems from organic and inorganic chemistry.

The various technologies and associated process concepts will be assessed using a novel methodology for comparing new and emerging technologies, for which limited data are available and the maturity level varies substantially. Based on the relative performance using various performance indicators, a selection of two breakthrough technologies will be made. Those two technologies will be further studied in order to do a more thorough benchmarking against demonstrated state-of-the-art technologies. A technological roadmap, based on a thorough gap analysis, for industrial demonstration of the two technologies will finally be established.