(98f) Evaluating the Influence of Stream Contaminants Such As Water, NOx and Sour Gas on Carbon Capture Adsorbents

Solid sorbents, including zeolites, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and finely divided metal oxides, are among the most promising candidates for carbon capture in both direct air capture (DAC) and point-source (PS) applications. The evaluation of novel carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) materials typically involves measuring working capacity and sorption kinetics in single-component experiments. However, translating laboratory success into industrial viability requires assessing performance under process-relevant conditions. Key performance indicators such as long-term stability, regeneration conditions, and thermal properties must also be considered¹.

A major challenge in real-world applications is the presence of minor contaminants in the process stream. For DAC and PS, water vapor (H₂O) is a common impurity, while point-source emissions may contain SOₓ, NOₓ, or acidic gases, and DAC environments may include atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These contaminants can compete with CO₂ for sorption sites, altering adsorption capacity and kinetics. In some cases, humidity enhances sorption, as observed in amine-based materials² and alkali/alkaline earth metal carbonation processes.³ However, even trace amounts of noxious gases can poison and degrade sorbents over time. Assessing the impact of contaminants on CO₂ uptake is therefore critical.

In this study, we employ gravimetric and breakthrough analysis to evaluate these effects on both commercially available and novel sorbents. Our findings provide insights into the practical performance of solid sorbents in realistic operating conditions.

References

[1] M.-Y. (Ashlyn) Low, L. V. Barton, R. Pini, C. Petit, Chem. Eng. Res. Des. 2023, 189, 745–767.

[2] T. Wang, K. S. Lackner, A. Wright, Environ. Sci. Technol. 2011, 45, 6670–6675.

[3] P. López-Arce, L. S. Gómez-Villalba, S. Martínez-Ramírez, M. Álvarez De Buergo, R. Fort, Powder Technol. 2011, 205, 263–269.