Electrochemical CO2 capture and mineralisation

由于大气中二氧化碳水平的增加，从发电厂废气中捕获碳被广泛接受为任何控制气候变化的全球政策的重要组成部分。然而，通常的捕获二氧化碳废物的方法是使用胺的水溶液，据计算，这种方法消耗的能量占发电站产生的能量的25%-30%。在这个项目中，我们将以初步的结果为基础，开发一种替代的电化学方法来捕获碳。我们已经证明，通过使用低表面积的铝阳极(涂有可渗透石墨)和铂阴极，在含有5%二氧化碳的氮气气氛中电解氯化钠水溶液(以模拟发电厂烟气)，导致铂阴极产生氢并析出碳化的氧化铝。这一过程具有许多非常理想的特性：电力可以从可再生资源中产生。氢气的联产提供了高价值的副产品。氯化钠水溶液电解液实际上就是海水。可以利用废铝来避免与使用原始铝相关的费用和二氧化碳排放。二氧化碳被捕获为固体，比气态二氧化碳更容易储存，并可能有商业应用。本项目将允许该项目继续进行，将涉及：了解和优化电化学电池设计演示使用真正的海水和废铝作为阳极的其他材料的调查，阴极和电解板使用太阳能电池板驱动电化学过程。如果使用可再生电力，则计算整个过程的能量学，并演示其碳负性。

Carbon capture from power station exhaust gases is widely accepted as being an essential part of any global policy to control climate change due to increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, the usual way of capturing waste carbon dioxide uses aqueous solutions of amines and has been calculated to consume 25-30% of the energy generated by a power station. In this project we will build on preliminary results to develop an alternative electrochemical approach to carbon capture.We have already shown that by using a low surface area aluminium anode (coated in permeable graphite) along with a platinum cathode, electrolysis of an aqueous solution of sodium chloride under an atmosphere of 5% carbon dioxide in nitrogen (to simulate power station flue gas) resulted in generation of hydrogen at the platinum cathode and precipitation of carbonated aluminium oxide. This process has a number of highly desirable characteristics:The electricity can be generated from renewable sources.The coproduction of hydrogen provides a high value by-product.The aqueous sodium chloride electrolyte is effectively just sea water.Waste aluminium is available which could be used to avoid the expense and carbon dioxide emissions associated with using pristine aluminium.The carbon dioxide is captured as a solid which is easier to store than gaseous carbon dioxide and which may have commercial applications.This studentship will allow this project to be continued and will involve: Understanding and optimising the electrochemical cell designDemonstrating the use of real sea water and waste aluminiumInvestigation of other materials for the anode, cathode and electrolyteUsing a solar panel to drive the electrochemical processCalculation of the overall energetics of the process and demonstration of its carbon negative nature if renewable electricity is used.