Membrane to cut carbon dioxide emission from coal power units
June 17th, 2010 - 6:20 pm ICT by IANSSydney, June 17 (IANS) High-tech cling wraps that filter out carbon dioxide (CO2) from waste gases can help save the world, says the researcher who developed the technology.
The membranes can be fitted to existing chimneys where they capture CO2 for removal and storage. They are already being tested on brown coal power stations in Victoria’s La Trobe Valley, said Colin Scholes, a Melbourne University chemical engineer.
“The membrane material is specifically designed to separate CO2 from other molecules,” he said.
“It acts like a filter and is much more efficient than existing technology. We are hoping these membranes will become an important part of a carbon capture and storage strategy which will cut emissions from power stations by up to 90 percent,” he said.
Not only are the new membranes efficient, they are also relatively cheap to produce. “Carbon capture and storage is currently very expensive. Reducing the cost of trapping the CO2 will make it much more affordable. And cheaper systems mean power generators can put them in place much sooner,” he said.
Another crucial aspect of the membrane has been its toughness - a power station chimney is not a friendly environment. “Trials with real flue gas have been essential for the development of material robust enough to handle industrial conditions,” Colin said.
“Fossil fuels currently supply 85 percent of the world’s energy,” says Colin, one of the founders of the Australian chapter of Scientists Without Borders, said a Melbourne University release.
“So despite the urgent need to reduce levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the International Energy Agency predicts fossil fuels will continue to be heavily used for many years to come,” it said.
“Carbon capture and storage will be an important part of the portfolio of solutions to address climate change including energy efficiency, less carbon-intensive fuels, natural carbon sinks and renewable energy,” it added.
His work is being presented for the first time in public through Fresh Science, a communication boot camp for early career scientists held at the Melbourne Museum.
- Saline aquifers can store century's worth of CO2 emissions - Mar 22, 2012
- Using Mother Nature's method to save oceans' marine life - Jan 20, 2011
- Man-made photosynthesis to boost food output - Feb 19, 2012
- Direct removal of CO2 from air impractical: Scientists - May 10, 2011
- Rivers could provide energy for half billion people - Apr 19, 2012
- Indian, Israeli experts tap sun for hybrid power plants - Feb 14, 2012
- Common metal could efficiently produce fuel from sunlight - Jan 20, 2011
- Tweaking copper to recycle CO2 into fuel - Apr 12, 2012
- Low-carbon technology can't fix global warming - Feb 16, 2012
- New technique sweeps smokestacks clean of CO2 - Jan 09, 2012
- Dubai Airports reduce 72,000 tonnes CO2 emissions - Mar 28, 2012
- Forests can store more carbon emissions than earlier thought - Jul 15, 2011
- New system can separate all CO2 emissions produced by burning of coal - Sep 22, 2009
- Electric cars 'are as dirty as diesel cars' - Feb 24, 2011
- 'Dry water' could offer new way to absorb and store CO2, fight global warming - Aug 26, 2010
Tags: brown coal, carbon dioxide emission, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, chemical engineer, chimneys, climate change, co2, coal power, energy efficiency, flue gas, fossil fuels, international energy agency, melbourne university, membrane material, natural carbon, power generators, scholes, storage strategy, toughness, waste gases