CoERCe III Polymer Particle Beads (PPBs) Scale-Up Experimental Development

This project will research and develop a scale-up batch production process for a novel polymer based CO2 capture and removal porous particle beads (PPBs) sorbent, ready for field testing of the technology. The PPBs are used to remove targeted gas contaminants such as CO2\. The project builds on a successful Combined Energy Recovery and Carbon dioxide Capture (CoERCe) technology research programme that led to successful completion of mobile laboratory bench-scale demonstrator, and independent laboratory performance verification tests using commercial grade chemicals. The CoERCe technology is now at Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6).

To reach technology system prototype demonstration in operational environment level TRL 7 (field trial), the CoERCe project requires several kilograms of PPBs material to produced and tested in the field. The work will involve: (i) PPBs material batch scale-up production process research to produce CEAD's patented solid CO2 sorbent material known as Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs), which are fundamentally Porous Polymer Beads engineered to delivered specific CO2 capture characteristics; (ii) the development of field trial test programme to verify the CoERCe technology in-situ, and (iii) manufacture of a minimum 10kg of PPBs material using scale-up process. Compared to existing CO2 capture solutions, the advantages of MIPs lie in their low material and production costs, low absorption and regeneration temperatures or pressure, as well as high CO2 gas selectivity in any gas mixture.

CEAD will carry out this project on its own over a period of 7 months, assisted by specialist polymerisation process subcontract consultancy help from the University of Cambridge. Initial target markets for CoERCe technology is biogas upgrading, hydrogen purification, biomass plants, with long term applications in gas powered electricity power stations, freight transport, and open fires and stoves in developing countries.