Membrane-based, enzyme-facilitated, efficient carbon dioxide capture

Carbozyme, Inc. has developed a biomimetic technology that promises significant cost and performance advantages over amine-scrubbing systems for the capture of CO2 from combustion flue gases. CO2 capture requires that the apparatus be able to accept a wide variety of gas streams, generate a stream acceptable to a pipeline operator, and do so at competitive cost and energy bases. A baseline engineering and economic comparison showed the Carbozyme technology to be an improvement over MEA. A predictive model of the Carbozyme permeator system was validated during a preliminary test of a 0.5-m2 permeator in which 85% removal of CO2 from a 15.4% CO2 feed stream was achieved. Upon fabrication, the next-scale permeator will be shipped to the Energy & Environmental Research Center for testing on coal combustion flue gas.