Energy-efficient carbon capture from industrial point sources via commercially available green solvent and hollow fiber membrane contactors

Irwin, Mary H. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000304435610); Gregorich, Nicholas [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000156889492); Coin, Zachary [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)]; Bhave, Ramesh [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000334309914); Ivanov, Ilia [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000267262502); Sacci, Robert [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000200735221); Rother, Gernot [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000349216294); Sholl, David S. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000227719168); Islam, Syed Z. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000251498094)

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2025.169924

DOE OSTI · 3376504

Energy-efficient carbon capture from industrial point sources via commercially available green solvent and hollow fiber membrane contactors

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Abstract

Solvent-based absorption systems have emerged in the carbon capture space due to their high absorption capacities, reusability, and favorable energy requirements. Using diethyl sebacate as a solvent for pre- and post-combustion carbon capture has advantages over other solvents, including high hydrophobicity, low viscosity, low vapor pressure, high CO 2 solubility, high CO 2 selectivity, and being commercially available in large quantities. Despite these advantageous properties, the use of diethyl sebacate as a solvent for post-combustion carbon capture has not been studied in detail. To examine the capability of diethyl sebacate, a scalable, energy-efficient, hollow fiber membrane (microporous polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride) contactor (HFMC)-based process with low-cost and high surface area is investigated. A purity of 95.3 % CO 2 with 46 % recovery in one absorption stage was achieved, with a permeate flux over one magnitude greater than using a deep eutectic solvent in the same system. Technoeconomic analysis determined a ∼ 0.8 GJ per ton of CO 2 at a processing cost of ∼$93 per ton of CO 2 . Results from this work underscore the potential for utilizing green solvents in HFMC-based separation processes for effective carbon capture and provide a pathway towards practical deployment.

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Absorption Carbon capture Green solvents Membranes

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Irwin, Mary H. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000304435610), Gregorich, Nicholas [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000156889492), Coin, Zachary [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)], Bhave, Ramesh [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000334309914), Ivanov, Ilia [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000267262502), Sacci, Robert [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000200735221), Rother, Gernot [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000349216294), Sholl, David S. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000227719168), Islam, Syed Z. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000251498094). 2025-12-01. Energy-efficient carbon capture from industrial point sources via commercially available green solvent and hollow fiber membrane contactors. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.169924

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