Versatile Adsorption Processes for the Capture of Carbon Dioxide from Industrial Sources - FlexICCS

Lead Research Organisation: University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Engineering

Abstract

The 2008 Climate Change Act sets a legally binding target of 80% CO2 emissions reductions by 2050. This target will require nearly complete decarbonisation of large and medium scale emitters. While the power sector has the option of shifting to low carbon systems (renewables and nuclear), for industrial emissions, which will account for 45% of global emissions, the solution has to be based on developing more efficient processes and a viable carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure. The government recognises also that "there are some industrial processes which, by virtue of the chemical reactions required for production, will continue to emit CO2", ie CCS is the only option to tackle these emissions. In order for the UK industry to maintain its competitiveness and meet these stringent requirements new processes are needed which reduce the cost of carbon capture, typically more than 60% of the overall cost of CCS.

Research challenge - The key challenges in carbon capture from industry lie in the wide range of conditions (temperature, pressure, composition) and scale of the processes encountered in industrial applications. For carbon capture from industrial sources the drivers and mechanisms to achieve emissions reductions will be very different from those of the power generation industry. It is important to consider that for example the food and drinks industry is striving to reduce the carbon footprint of the products we purchase due to pressures from consumers.
The practical challenge and the real long term opportunity for R&D are solutions for medium to small scale sources. In developing this project we have collaborated with several industrial colleagues to identify a broad range case studies to be investigated. As an example of low CO2 concentration systems we have identified a medium sized industry: Lotte Chemicals in Redcar, manufacturer of PET products primarily for the packaging of food and drinks. The plant has gas fired generators that produce 3500 kg/hr of CO2 each at approximately 7%. The emissions from the generators are equivalent to 1/50th of a 500 MW gas fired power plant. The challenge is to intensify the efficiency of the carbon capture units by reducing cycle times and increasing the working capacity of the adsorbents. To tackle this challenge we will develop novel amine supporting porous carbons housed in a rotary wheel adsorber. To maximise the volume available for the adsorbent we will consider direct electrical heating, thus eliminating the need for heat transfer surfaces and introducing added flexibility in case steam is not available on site.
As an example of high CO2 concentrations we will collaborate with Air Products. The CO2 capture process will be designed around the steam methane reformer used to generate hydrogen. The tail gas from this system contains 45% v/v CO2. The base case will be for a generator housed in a shipping container. By developing a corresponding carbon capture module this can lead to a system that can produce clean H2 from natural gas or shale gas, providing a flexible low carbon source of H2 or fuel for industrial applications.
Rapid cycle adsorption based processes will be developed to drive down costs by arriving flexible systems with small footprints for a range of applications and that can lead to mass-production of modular units. We will carry out an ambitious programme of work that will address both materials and process development for carbon capture from industrial sources.

Planned Impact

1. Who might benefit from this research?

Academia - see Academic Beneficiaries section.

Industry - Industrial partners covering a broad range of sectors (from spirits production to traditional refining and including the Teesside Collective) are contributing directly to this research, helping to shape the project with an excellent mix of case studies of potential applications of the modular adsorption based technology.

Policy makers planning for CCS development need information on efficient new capture technologies, as will investors in new industrial plants who need to include new capture technologies in the future scenarios of production in a low carbon economy.

General public will benefit from the improved fundamental scientific knowledge of the design of new adsorbent materials and advanced modular processes that take full advantage of these new materials. This will provide information for public debates and material for School teachers to explain the potential of CCS and how science and engineering are applied in this field.

2. How might they benefit from this research?

Commercial, Economic and Industry benefit - CCS is an industry in its early stages of development and as recognised by the Government research can lead to significant innovation and cost reduction, especially in novel carbon capture technologies, where over 50% of the full chain cost lies. Taking an early lead in the development of new technologies has the potential to produce clear benefits in terms of both National and International competitiveness. The project includes from the outset collaborations with end users and suppliers of advanced fast cycle adsorptions systems, thus providing a direct link that will ensure rapid take-up of the results of the project.

Environmental and Energy benefit - The UK Climate Change Act has clearly set the legally binding target of target of 80% CO2 emissions reductions by 2050. This target will require nearly complete decarbonisation of large and medium scale emitters. While the power sector has the option of shifting to low carbon systems (renewables and nuclear), for industrial emissions, which will account for 45% of global emissions, the solution has to be based on developing more efficient processes and a viable CCS infrastructure. The government recognises also that "there are some industrial processes which, by virtue of the chemical reactions required for production, will continue to emit CO2", ie CCS is the only option to tackle these emissions.

Influencing Public Policy and Legislation benefit - The results of this project will allow reliable predictions of the performance of a new carbon capture technology applicable to a wide range of carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources. Collaboration with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (a project partner) will guide policy development and future standards for setting the requirements of CCS for industrial plants.

Publications

10 25 50

 
Description The production of hydrogen from steam methane reforming includes sufficient excess energy that allows in principle to operate two adsorption processes that can capture 80-90% of the carbon dioxide produced. Furthermore, taking as the basis current small commercial steam methane reformers housed in shipping containers the size of the corresponding capture units can be placed inside a shipping container. Designs for pressure a swing adsorption process have been shown to capture very efficiently approximately half the carbon dioxide generated by the steam methane reformer. As hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel, this is a potential technology that could have widespread use.
Exploitation Route Hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel, this is a potential technology that could have widespread use and potentially impact also small scale emissions from different sectors.
Sectors Chemicals

Construction

Energy

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

 
Description We have been approached by two companies (one in the EU and one in Canada) who are interested in implementing the modular design of the carbon capture unit applied to a steam methane reformer. These are early discussions that are progressing.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Sector Chemicals,Energy
Impact Types Economic

 
Title CCDC 1875994: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Ram R. R. Prasad, Sarah E. Seidner, David B. Cordes, Magdalena M. Lozinska, Daniel M. Dawson, Megan J. Thompson, Tina Düren, Kristina K. Chakarova, Mihail Y. Mihaylov, Konstantin I. Hadjiivanov, Frank Hoffmann, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin, Sharon E. Ashbrook, Matthew L. Clarke, Paul A. Wright|2019|J.Mater.Chem.A|7|5685|doi:10.1039/C8TA10610J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc20z3y2&sid=DataCite
 
Title CCDC 1875995: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Ram R. R. Prasad, Sarah E. Seidner, David B. Cordes, Magdalena M. Lozinska, Daniel M. Dawson, Megan J. Thompson, Tina Düren, Kristina K. Chakarova, Mihail Y. Mihaylov, Konstantin I. Hadjiivanov, Frank Hoffmann, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin, Sharon E. Ashbrook, Matthew L. Clarke, Paul A. Wright|2019|J.Mater.Chem.A|7|5685|doi:10.1039/C8TA10610J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc20z3z3&sid=DataCite
 
Title CCDC 1875996: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Ram R. R. Prasad, Sarah E. Seidner, David B. Cordes, Magdalena M. Lozinska, Daniel M. Dawson, Megan J. Thompson, Tina Düren, Kristina K. Chakarova, Mihail Y. Mihaylov, Konstantin I. Hadjiivanov, Frank Hoffmann, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin, Sharon E. Ashbrook, Matthew L. Clarke, Paul A. Wright|2019|J.Mater.Chem.A|7|5685|doi:10.1039/C8TA10610J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc20z405&sid=DataCite
 
Title CCDC 2039587: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Ram R. R. Prasad, Charlotte Pleass, Amber L. Rigg, David B. Cordes, Magdalena M. Lozinska, Veselina M. Georgieva, Frank Hoffmann, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin, Paul A. Wright|2021|CrystEngComm|23|804|doi:10.1039/D0CE01593H 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc26gc46&sid=DataCite
 
Title CCDC 2039588: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Ram R. R. Prasad, Charlotte Pleass, Amber L. Rigg, David B. Cordes, Magdalena M. Lozinska, Veselina M. Georgieva, Frank Hoffmann, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin, Paul A. Wright|2021|CrystEngComm|23|804|doi:10.1039/D0CE01593H 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc26gc57&sid=DataCite
 
Title CCDC 2039589: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Ram R. R. Prasad, Charlotte Pleass, Amber L. Rigg, David B. Cordes, Magdalena M. Lozinska, Veselina M. Georgieva, Frank Hoffmann, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin, Paul A. Wright|2021|CrystEngComm|23|804|doi:10.1039/D0CE01593H 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc26gc68&sid=DataCite
 
Title CCDC 2039590: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Ram R. R. Prasad, Charlotte Pleass, Amber L. Rigg, David B. Cordes, Magdalena M. Lozinska, Veselina M. Georgieva, Frank Hoffmann, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin, Paul A. Wright|2021|CrystEngComm|23|804|doi:10.1039/D0CE01593H 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc26gc79&sid=DataCite
 
Title CCDC 2039591: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Ram R. R. Prasad, Charlotte Pleass, Amber L. Rigg, David B. Cordes, Magdalena M. Lozinska, Veselina M. Georgieva, Frank Hoffmann, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin, Paul A. Wright|2021|CrystEngComm|23|804|doi:10.1039/D0CE01593H 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc26gc8b&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 1950850: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Magdalena M. Lozinska, David N. Miller, Stefano Brandani, Paul A. Wright|2020|J.Mater.Chem.A|8|3280|doi:10.1039/C9TA09783J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc23h0n9&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 1950851: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Magdalena M. Lozinska, David N. Miller, Stefano Brandani, Paul A. Wright|2020|J.Mater.Chem.A|8|3280|doi:10.1039/C9TA09783J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc23h0pb&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 1950852: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Magdalena M. Lozinska, David N. Miller, Stefano Brandani, Paul A. Wright|2020|J.Mater.Chem.A|8|3280|doi:10.1039/C9TA09783J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc23h0qc&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 1950853: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Magdalena M. Lozinska, David N. Miller, Stefano Brandani, Paul A. Wright|2020|J.Mater.Chem.A|8|3280|doi:10.1039/C9TA09783J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc23h0rd&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 1950854: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Magdalena M. Lozinska, David N. Miller, Stefano Brandani, Paul A. Wright|2020|J.Mater.Chem.A|8|3280|doi:10.1039/C9TA09783J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc23h0sf&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 1950855: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Magdalena M. Lozinska, David N. Miller, Stefano Brandani, Paul A. Wright|2020|J.Mater.Chem.A|8|3280|doi:10.1039/C9TA09783J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc23h0tg&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 1970061: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Magdalena M. Lozinska, David N. Miller, Stefano Brandani, Paul A. Wright|2020|J.Mater.Chem.A|8|3280|doi:10.1039/C9TA09783J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc2440cp&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 1970062: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Magdalena M. Lozinska, David N. Miller, Stefano Brandani, Paul A. Wright|2020|J.Mater.Chem.A|8|3280|doi:10.1039/C9TA09783J 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc2440dq&sid=DataCite
 
Title Cation ordering and exsolution behaviour in Cu-containing forms of the flexible zeolite Rho (Cu,M-Rho; M = H, Na) and its consequences for CO2 adsorption properties (dataset) 
Description  
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/datasets/cation-ordering-and-exsolution-behaviour-in-cucon...
 
Title Hiding Extra-Framework Cations in Zeolites L and Y by Internal Ion Exchange and its Effect on CO2 Adsorption (dataset) 
Description  
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk:443/portal/en/datasets/hiding-extraframework-cations-in-zeolites-l-a...
 
Title Isoreticular Chemistry of Scandium Analogues of the Multicomponent Metal-Organic Framework MIL-142 (dataset) 
Description  
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/datasets/isoreticular-chemistry-of-scandium-analogues-of-t...
 
Title RAW Data for Thesis entitled " An investigation of MOFs as Bifunctional Catalysts for Tandem Reactions" (Thesis data) 
Description The chemical versatility of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) has been exploited in the designed synthesis of a bifunctional catalysts containing Lewis acidic and metal phosphine catalytic centres, with the aim of efficient and selective tandem catalysis. First, a wide range of known and novel early transition metal-based MOFs were synthesised and characterised, and their Lewis acidity examined in an imine formation reaction. From among the most promising of these, MOF-808(Hf) was chosen on the basis of its ability to include phosphine groups in a facile manner, and bifunctional MOFs based on this platform were tested for a series of tandem reactions. A series of scandium MOFs based on tricarboxylate, mixed dicarboxylate and tricarboxylate and tetracarboxylate linkers was synthesised and the materials examined for their Lewis acidity. In addition to STA-27, a novel scandium MOF with an unprecedented scandium 1D building block, scandium versions of previously-reported trivalent metal MOFs were synthesised for the first time by using different tricarboxylate and functionalised dicarboxylate linkers. STA-27 showed the highest catalytic activity among all the scandium MOFs in the imine condensation but did not offer ready functionalisation routes for phosphines. Next, previously-reported zirconium and hafnium-based MOFs were synthesised which were capable of being post-synthetically functionalised with phosphine groups: their Lewis acidity was analysed. These materials include zirconium and hafnium MOFs with different cluster connectivities ranging from twelve to six. Furthermore, novel tricarboxylate and tetracarboxylate MOFs based on zirconium and hafnium were synthesised from the same starting materials by using different monocarboxylic acids as modulators. MOF-808(Hf) was identified as the best Lewis acidic catalyst among all the twenty-five MOFs examined and furthermore offered a straightforward route to functionalisation. Post-synthetic modification of MOF-808(Hf) to include triarylphosphine ligands was performed. Sulfonated phenylphosphines were incorporated without oxidation to give a ?MOF ligand? that can complex platinum group metals such as Ir and Rh to give a bifunctional catalyst containing both metal-phosphine complexes and Lewis acidic framework hafnium (or zirconium) metal sites. The metallated phosphine-bearing MOFs act as fully heterogeneous bifunctional catalysts for tandem reductive amination and hydroaminomethylation reactions. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/datasets/raw-data-for-thesis-entitled--an-investigation-...
 
Title STA-27, a porous Lewis acidic scandium MOF with an unexpected topology type prepared with 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)pyrazine (dataset) 
Description A porous scandium MOF denoted STA-27 (St Andrews Porous Material-27) has been synthesized solvothermally using 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)pyrazine (TCPP) as the tetratopic carboxylate linker. STA-27 possesses a unique scandium based 1D rod secondary building unit (SBU) comprising corner-sharing scandium dimers connected via carboxylate groups from the TCPP. Under similar synthesis conditions the smaller Al3+ and Ga3+ cations give a predictable MOF topology type based on chains of corner-sharing MO4(OH)2 octahedra. After activation under mild conditions STA-27 is an active Lewis acidic catalyst, while heating at elevated temperatures results in rupturing of the Sc-O-Sc linkages and a phase transition to a different topological type. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/datasets/sta-27-a-porous-lewis-acidic-scandium-mof-with-...