“Revolutionary Membrane Technology: Pumping Carbon Dioxide Out of the Air with Ambient Energy”
The groundbreaking research conducted by Newcastle University researchers has led to the development of a new ambient-energy-driven membrane that has the ability to pump carbon dioxide out of the air. This innovation comes at a crucial time when the need to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions is more pressing than ever.
Direct air capture, which involves separating carbon dioxide from the air, has been identified as a key solution to addressing the challenges posed by climate change. With approximately 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere each year, finding efficient ways to remove this greenhouse gas is essential. However, the dilute concentration of carbon dioxide in the air (~0.04%) has made this process extremely difficult.
Prof Ian Metcalfe, the lead investigator of the research team, explains that dilute separation processes are particularly challenging due to the slow kinetics of chemical reactions and the high energy requirements for concentrating the dilute component. To overcome these challenges, the Newcastle researchers collaborated with colleagues from various institutions to develop a membrane process that utilizes humidity differences as a driving force for pumping carbon dioxide out of the air.
The team’s work, published in Nature Energy, showcases the first synthetic membrane capable of capturing carbon dioxide from the air and increasing its concentration without the need for traditional energy inputs like heat or pressure. Dr Greg A. Mutch emphasizes the importance of direct air capture in the future energy system, especially for capturing emissions from mobile and distributed sources of carbon dioxide.
The humidity-driven membrane developed by the researchers operates in a unique manner, with higher humidity on the output side of the membrane causing the membrane to spontaneously pump carbon dioxide into that stream. By utilizing X-ray micro-computed tomography and molecular-scale modelling, the team was able to characterize the structure of the membrane and identify specific carriers that facilitate the transport of carbon dioxide and water through the membrane.
Overall, this innovative membrane technology represents a significant step forward in the field of direct air capture and offers a promising solution for reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. The collaborative effort of the research team and the support from various institutions have been instrumental in the success of this project, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing global challenges.