CO2 Sponge Could Ease Transition to Hydrogen Fuels

Aug-14-14 A new polymer able to absorb CO2 could help reduce carbon emissions while also making hydrogen power options more feasible.

A new method called integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) process is being investigated as a way to convert fossil fuels into hydrogen, but that process also creates CO2 as a byproduct. To help combat this CO2 accumulation, a team from the University of Liverpool created a polymer that will swell and absorb the CO2 when exposed to a high-pressure environment, such as the IGCC process. The CO2 will also be released when the pressure drops and the material's swelling subsides, which allows the CO2 to be collected for use in carbon-based products.

The new polymer is very robust and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and could also be installed in smokestacks to help "scrub" the carbon dioxide from the emissions.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[ACS.ORG]

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