Inspenet, September 4, 2023.<\/p>\n\n
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a carbon capture system<\/strong> using an electrochemical cell capable of trapping and releasing CO 2<\/sub> efficiently.<\/p>\n\n This device operates at room temperature and consumes less energy compared to traditional amine-based carbon capture systems<\/strong> , as detailed in an article published in the journal ACS Central Science.<\/p>\n\n Carbon capture is a promising technique to combat climate change, since it allows carbon dioxide (CO 2<\/sub> ) to be trapped before it is released into the atmosphere. However, the conventional process requires a significant amount of energy and equipment.<\/p>\n\n Many industries are opting for electrification as a strategy to reduce emissions, although this solution is not applicable in all sectors.<\/p>\n\n Excess carbon dioxide can be captured using capture technologies that generally rely on amines to remove the pollutant through chemical reactions. However, this process also demands a considerable amount of energy, heat and industrial equipment, sometimes resulting in increased consumption of fossil fuels.<\/p>\n\n The scientists, including Fang-Yu Kuo, Sung Eun Jerng and Betar Gallant, aimed to develop an electrochemical cell that could capture and release CO 2<\/sub> simply and reversibly, with minimal power consumption, using renewable energy<\/a><\/strong> sources.<\/p>\n\n First, the team created a cell that could trap and release carbon by “balancing” positively charged cations through a solution of amine dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide.<\/p>\n\n During cell discharge, a strong Lewis cation interacted with carbamic acid, releasing CO 2<\/sub> and forming amine carbamate. Then, in the reverse process during cell charging, the cation disappeared, allowing the cell to capture CO 2<\/sub> and reform carbamic acid.<\/p>\n\n Likewise, the scientists managed to improve the ionic oscillation technique by using a combination of potassium and zinc ions. In a prototype cell, they used these two types of ions as essential components of the cell’s cathode and anode. Such a cell requires a lower amount of power compared to those that rely on heat and demonstrated competitive results in early tests.<\/p>\n\n In addition to this, they put the device through long-term stability tests and found that it retained approximately 95% of its original capacity after being subjected to several charge and discharge cycles, supporting the viability of the system.<\/p>\n\nCreation of the carbon capture system<\/h3>\n\n