In research published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, the team introduced a technique for the ultrafast formation of carbon dioxide hydrates. These ice-like materials can trap carbon dioxide in the ocean, preventing its release into the atmosphere.
"We're staring at a huge challenge - finding a way to safely remove gigatons of carbon from our atmosphere - and hydrates offer a universal solution for carbon storage. For them to be a major piece of the carbon storage pie, we need the technology to grow them rapidly and at scale," said Vaibhav Bahadur, a professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering who led the research. "We've shown that we can quickly grow hydrates without using any chemicals that offset the environmental benefits of carbon capture."
Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas and a major driver of climate change. Carbon capture and sequestration involve removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it permanently. It is seen as a crucial strategy for decarbonizing the planet.
Currently, the predominant method of carbon storage involves injecting carbon dioxide into underground reservoirs, which not only traps carbon but also boosts oil production. However, this method has significant drawbacks, including carbon dioxide leakage, groundwater contamination, and seismic risks. Additionally, suitable geologic features for reservoir injection are not available worldwide.
Hydrates represent an alternative for large-scale carbon storage, Bahadur said, but they could become the primary method if key challenges are resolved. The traditional formation of these carbon-trapping hydrates has been slow and energy-intensive, limiting their large-scale application.
In this study, the researchers achieved a sixfold increase in the rate of hydrate formation compared to previous methods. The combination of speed and a chemical-free process enhances the feasibility of using these hydrates for large-scale carbon storage.
Magnesium plays a critical role in this research, acting as a catalyst that eliminates the need for chemical promoters. This is facilitated by high flow rate bubbling of CO2 in a specific reactor configuration. The technology is compatible with seawater, simplifying its implementation as it bypasses the need for desalination processes to produce fresh water.
"Hydrates are attractive carbon storage options since the seabed offers stable thermodynamic conditions, which protects them from decomposing," Bahadur said. "We are essentially making carbon storage available to every country on the planet that has a coastline; this makes storage more accessible and feasible on a global scale and brings us closer to achieving a sustainable future."
The implications of this innovation extend beyond carbon sequestration. Ultrafast formation of hydrates also has potential applications in desalination, gas separation, and gas storage, offering versatile solutions for various industries.
The researchers and UT have filed for a pair of patents related to the technology, and the team is considering a startup to commercialize it.
Research Report:Ultrafast Formation of Carbon Dioxide Hydrate Foam for Carbon Sequestration
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