Next-Generation Modified Metal Organic Frameworks for CO2 Capture

Alternative energy sources are becoming more readily available, but fossil fuel power will continue to provide a significant portion of electricity for the Nation for the foreseeable future. There is, however, growing concern over the CO2 emissions resulting from fossil fuel utilization. In 2017, the U.S. alone released approximately 5.7 billion metric tons of CO2. Capture of CO2 is of concern to the Department of Energy, and the DOE Carbon Capture Program is focused on development of technologies to reduce the impact of CO2 capture on power, to scale-up for deployment at facilities, and to improve cost effectiveness of CO2 capture. To support this DOE effort, this project will develop a robust, high-capacity solid sorbent for CO2 capture. Development of this technology will support the continued safe use of coal and gas for utility and industrial applications. Current carbon capture technology using aqueous amine scrubbing has drawbacks such as cost, low capacity, degradation during cycling applications, and its corrosive nature. These issues must be addressed to ensure the feasibility of carbon capture and continued use of fossil fuel for energy generation. A potential solution to these issues is the use of high-capacity solid sorbents such as metal organic frameworks (MOF), which have very high capacity for CO2 but are often sensitive to various conditions. For practical application, the next generation of MOF sorbents need to be more robust to handle the mechanical demands and humidity associated with real-world use. The sorbents proposed in this project are amine-functionalized MOFs with 3D-printed silica scaffolding that addresses both mechanical stability and moisture tolerance. These solid sorbents are not corrosive and have greater capacity than aqueous amines. When used in a cyclical process, the sorbents can release captured CO2 as a high-purity CO2 stream for utilization in other applications. This can include manufacture of chemicals and materials from methanol to carbon nanotubes, as well as enhanced oil recovery. Phase I of this project will first demonstrate successful production of the 3D printed scaffold and in situ synthesis of the advanced sorbent. This will be followed by testing to quantify the sorbent performance at small-scale. Finally, cyclical testing will be performed under dry and humid conditions to quantify CO2 capture and recovery, and demonstrate performance capable of meeting the target of $30/metric ton of CO2 captured and 95% purity desorption production, as stated by the subtopic 20b of this FOA. The Global CO2 Initiative examined the potential market for CO2-derived products, which included five major product categories: aggregates, fuels, concrete, methanol, and polymers. These five products have the potential to create a market of over $800 billion by 2030. Tax incentives for CO2 capture and utilization make the prospect even more attractive. Currently, the 45Q tax credit offers ~$19 per metric ton of CO2 captured and utilized, and this will increase to $35 per metric ton by 2027. While fossil fuel use will remain prevalent for the foreseeable future, carbon-capture technologies can be used to offset emissions from fossil fuel sources. This benefits the public through continued, reliable power but at a decreased environmental cost while the next generation of energy technologies are developed.