Reactive Carbon Capture
Abstract
Carbon capture and utilization schemes require that CO2 captured from the atmosphere (or a point source) be released from the sorbent, and that the sorbent be recycled to capture additional CO2. Alkaline solutions such as KOH are effective at capturing CO2 through reactions that form (bi)carbonates, but the recovery of CO2 gas and hydroxide before CO2 electrolysis requires energy-intensive steps. We solved this problem by designing an electrochemical reactor that converts bicarbonate “reactive carbon capture solutions” into carbon-containing products. In this presentation, I will show how this reactor couples CO2 conversion with upstream carbon capture. Not only does this reactor bypass the expensive step of liberating CO2 from the sorbent, but it can also perform better than the reactors fed with gaseous CO2.
Bio
Prof. Curtis P. Berlinguette leads an interdisciplinary team that designs and builds electrochemical reactors to accelerate decarbonization. Dr. Berlinguette is a Distinguished University Scholar at the University of British Columbia, where he is a Professor of Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, CIFAR Program Director, and Principal Investigator at the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (SBQMI). His academic group has advanced a range of clean energy applications including CO2 utilization, membrane reactors for decarbonizing the chemicals industry, and low-temperature fusion. His team also pioneered the use of flexible automation and machine learning to build self-driving labs for materials.