Organization Name: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Project Title: Catalytic Improvement of Solvent Capture Systems

LLNL is designing a process to pull CO₂ out of the exhaust gas of coal-fired power plants so it can be transported, stored, or utilized elsewhere. Human lungs rely on an enzyme known as carbonic anhydrase to help separate CO₂ from our blood and tissue as part of the normal breathing process. LLNL is designing a synthetic catalyst with the same function as this enzyme. The catalyst can be used to quickly capture CO₂ from coal exhaust, just as the natural enzyme does in our lungs. LLNL is also developing a method of encapsulating chemical solvents in permeable microspheres that will greatly increase the speed of binding of CO₂. The goal of the project is an industry-ready chemical vehicle that can withstand the harsh environments found in exhaust gas and enable new, simple process designs requiring less capital investment.

Project Factsheet (PDF 301KB)

Other Resources
Project Details presented at the 2010 CO2 Capture Technology Meeting in September, 2010

IMPACCT - Projects

• Alliant Techsystems: Supersonic Technology for CO2 Capture
• Codexis: Better Enzymes for Carbon Capture
• Columbia University: Chemically Accelerated Carbon Mineralization
• GE Global Research: CO2 Capture with Liquid-to-Solid Absorbents
• Georgia Tech: Composite Membranes for CO2 Capture
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Metal Organic Framework Research
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: Synthetic Catalysts for CO2 Storage
• MIT: CO2 Capture Using Electrical Energy
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: High-Surface-Area CO2 Sponge
• Research Triangle Institute: CO2 Capture and Regeneration at Low Temperatures
• Sustainable Energy Solutions: Cryogenic Carbon Capture
• Texas A&M University: Stimuli-Responsive Metal Organic Frameworks
• University of Colorado Boulder: Gelled Ionic Liquid-Based Membranes
• University of Kentucky Center for Applied Research: Hybrid Solvent-Membrane CO2 Capture
• University of Notre Dame: Phase-Changing Ionic Liquids