The key to carbon neutrality a breakthrough technology to reduce CO2 in the air

The key to carbon neutrality a breakthrough technology to reduce CO2 in the air
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Mar 19, 2025

Dr. Young Cheol Park and his team at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) have developed an innovative solid adsorbent that captures carbon dioxide directly from ambient air and retrieves it at an average purity of 96.5%. This breakthrough also enabled the team to recover over 1 kilogram of CO2 per day, moving the technology closer to market readiness.

Atmospheric CO2 levels in Korea surpassed 400 parts per million (PPM) for the first time in 2013 and climbed to 427 PPM by 2023. During this period, the nation experienced a 1.1C rise in average annual temperature, underlining the impact of climate change. (Data source: Statistics Korea's Indicator Nuri, e-Nara Indicators).

While carbon capture systems are already in place at major emission sources like power stations and industrial plants, tackling widespread atmospheric CO2 requires a different strategy. Direct Air Capture (DAC) has emerged as a promising method for extracting CO2 directly from the air.

Most DAC technologies rely on amine-based solid adsorbents, which selectively absorb CO2. These materials capture CO2 from the air and release it when heated above 100C, yielding high-concentration CO2. However, conventional amine-based adsorbents degrade at elevated temperatures, compromising performance over time. Alternative approaches, such as vacuum-based CO2 recovery, have been considered but have yet to be commercialized.

To overcome these limitations, the KIER research team created a new amine-based solid adsorbent called SMKIER-1. Traditional adsorbents combine amines with a silica substrate; while the amines bind CO2 strongly, the energy required to release the gas can damage the heat-sensitive amines.

KIER's innovation involved incorporating a cyclic compound additive into the amine formulation. This additive weakens the bond between CO2 and the amine, reducing the energy needed for CO2 recovery. Additionally, it safeguards the amines against thermal degradation, allowing for efficient CO2 retrieval even at temperatures over 100C. The result is a more energy-efficient and durable solution for carbon capture.

The team conducted a continuous 350-hour demonstration using this new material, successfully recovering 1 kilogram of CO2 daily at a consistent purity of 96.5%. This marked a national first in CO2 recovery performance.

Future plans include scaling up the process to capture 10 kilograms of CO2 per day within the year and reaching a capacity of 200 kilograms daily as they target commercialization by 2030. By 2035, the team envisions a demonstration facility capable of sequestering over 1,000 tons of CO2 annually.

Dr. Park noted, "With this technology, we have taken the first step toward a solution that could ultimately reduce millions of tons of carbon dioxide annually in our country." He continued, "This achievement will make a significant contribution to the global efforts toward carbon neutrality."

The project received funding from the DACU Core Technology Development Program, supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Council of Science and Technology.