Catalyst shows promise for efficient CO₂ desorption

Scientists have developed a ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ packing catalyst that could significantly enhance the efficiency of CO₂ desorption, as reported in a study published in Engineering.

The paper is titled “Efficient CO₂ Desorption Catalysts: from Material Design to Kinetics Analysis and Application Evaluation.”

The research team from Tsinghua University and North China Electric Power University focused on the challenge of energy-intensive CO₂ capture via amine scrubbing. The traditional process requires large amounts of high-enthalpy steam for solvent regeneration, leading to high costs.

Heterogeneous catalysis has emerged as a potential solution, but existing studies have mainly focused on powder catalysts, with limited attention to practical applications and long-term durability.

The newly developed ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst was synthesized using a hydrothermal method. It exhibits strong metal oxide-support interactions, a porous structure, and active Zr–O–Al coordination. These properties promote proton transfer and significantly reduce the energy activation of carbamate decomposition by 40.7%, accelerating CO₂ desorption kinetics.

Laboratory and bench-scale demonstrations were conducted to evaluate the catalyst’s performance. The results showed that using the packing catalyst can reduce energy consumption by 27.56% and optimize the overall cost by 10.49% based on industrial flue gas. The catalyst also demonstrated excellent stability in alkaline solvents, with negligible metal ion leaching and no adverse effects on the amine solvent structure.

The study further investigated the catalyst’s mechanism. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the Zr–O–Al structure enhances the adsorption and activation of H₂O molecules, facilitating proton transfer and carbamate decomposition. The catalyst’s performance was also compared with other metal oxide catalysts, and it was found to be more efficient in alkaline environments.

Process simulation and economic–environmental evaluation were carried out using Aspen Plus software. The results indicated that the catalytic filler can improve CO₂ capture performance, with an optimal catalytic dosage of 60% achieving the highest desorption amount and capture efficiency while minimizing heat duty. The catalytic regeneration process can also reduce the total capture cost and increase CO₂ emission reduction.

This research represents a significant step forward in the development of efficient CO₂ capture technologies. The ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows great potential for industrial applications, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for reducing CO₂ emissions. Future studies may focus on further optimizing the catalyst’s performance and exploring its scalability for large-scale industrial use.