Novel Materials for Energy Efficient Production of High Purity Oxygen from Air

Oxygen-blown coal gasification and combustion provide promising pathways to highly efficient coal-based energy generation without carbon emissions. However, the processes currently used to generate large-volume oxygen streams tend to be capital and energy intensive, resulting in higher electricity costs. This project will develop a material capable of generating high purity O2 from ambient pressure air, under conditions well-suited to coal-based energy generation systems. An air separation unit utilizing the novel material will be less capital intensive and will operate with reduced parasitic power consumption relative to conventional cryogenic oxygen plants. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Application of the proposed technology within coal-based power plants should reduce electrical generation costs, reduce coal resource consumption, and reduce CO2 and NOx emissions.