Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Sorbent materials”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7

Critical review of functionalized silica sorbent strategies for selective extraction of rare earth elements from acid mine drainage

We report the ubiquitous and growing global reliance on rare earth elements (REEs) for modern technology and the need for reliable domestic sources underscore the rising trend in REE-related research. Adsorption-based methods for REE recovery from liquid waste sources are well-positioned to compete with those of solvent extraction, both because of their expected lower negative environmental impact and simpler process operations. Functionalized silica represents a rising category of low cost and stable sorbents for heavy metal and REE recovery. These materials have collectively achieved high capacity and/or high selective removal of REEs from ideal solutions and synthetic or real coal wastewater and other leachate source. These sorbents are competitive with conventional materials, such as ion exchange resins, activated carbon; and novel polymeric materials like ion-imprinted particles and metal organic frameworks (MOFs). This critical review first presents a data mining analysis for rare earth element recovery publications indexed in Web of science, highlighting changes in REE recovery research foci and confirming the sharply growing interest in functionalized silica sorbents. A detailed examination of sorbent formulation and operation strategies to selectively separate heavy (HREE), middle (MREE), and light (LREE) REEs from the aqueous sources is presented. Selectivity values for sorbents were largely calculated from available figure data and gauged the success of the associated strategies, primarily: (1) silane-grafted ligands, (2) impregnated ligands, and (3) bottom-up ligand/silica hybrids. These were often accompanied by successful co-strategies, especially bite angle control, site saturation, and selective REE elution. Recognizing the need to remove competing fouling metals to achieve purified REE “baskets,” we highlight techniques for eliminating these species from acid mine drainage (AMD) and suggest a novel adsorption-based process for purified REE extraction that could be adapted to different water systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Innovations in Direct Air Capture: Unveiling a Simple and Robust Synthesized Fibrous Amine-functionalized Matrix (FAM) Sorbent for Commercial Scale-up

The escalating challenge of climate change necessitates innovative solutions in the realm of carbon management, particularly in mitigating the impact of fossil fuel emissions. Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology emerged as a critical component within the spectrum of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) solutions, offering the distinct advantage of directly removing CO2 from the atmosphere irrespective of the source. This attribute grants DAC systems unparalleled flexibility in deployment locations and the potential to make substantial contributions to lowing atmospheric CO2 levels. The success of DAC technologies significantly depends on the development of an efficient, economical sorbent capable of selective and durable CO2 capture from ambient air. Recent advancements in material science have led to the exploration of amine-functionalized sorbents, hollow fiber sorbents and membranes, and other novel materials designed to meet these criteria. This study explores a novel Fibrous Amine-functionalized Matrix (FAM) sorbent. The FAM sorbent distinguished itself through its mechanical robustness, a streamlined synthesis process, and the capability for low-temperature regeneration (is 90 oC really low temperature?). FAM’s exceptional adsorption-desorption kinetics enable swift CO2 capture and release, crucial for the viability of DAC on a commercial scale. The synthesis process involves a simple dip-coating technique, allowing crosslinked amines to coat glass substrates.

Wang, Qiuming↗

Advancements in Direct Air Capture: Unveiling a Simple and Robust Synthesized Fibrous Amine-functionalized Matrix (FAM) Sorbent for Commercial Scale-up

The escalating challenge of climate change necessitates innovative solutions in the realm of carbon management, particularly in mitigating the impact of fossil fuel emissions. Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology emerges as a critical component within the spectrum of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) solutions, offering the distinct advantage of directly removing CO2 from the atmosphere irrespective of the source. This attribute grants DAC systems unparalleled flexibility in deployment location sand the potential to make substantial contributions to lowing atmospheric CO2 levels. The success of DAC technologies significantly depends on the development of efficient, economical sorbent capable of selective and durable CO2 capture from ambient air. Recent advancements in material science have led to the exploration of amine-functionalized sorbents, hollow fiber sorbents and membranes, and other novel materials designed to meet these criteria. This study introduces a significant advancement in DAC technology with the development of a Fibrous Amine-functionalized Matrix (FAM) sorbent. The FAM sorbent distinguished itself through its mechanical robustness, a streamlined synthesis process, and the capability for low-temperature regeneration. Its exceptional adsorption-desorption kinetics enable swift CO2 capture and release, crucial for the viability of DAC on a commercial scale.

Wang, Qiuming↗

High-Performance CO 2 Capture from Air by Harnessing the Power of CaO- and Superbase-Ionic-Liquid-Engineered Sorbents

Direct air capture (DAC) of CO 2 by solid porous materials represents an attractive “negative emission” technology. However, state-of-the-art sorbents based on supported amines still suffer from unsolved high energy consumption and stability issues. For this work, taking clues from the CO 2 interaction with superbase-derived ionic liquids (SILs), high-performance and tunable sorbents in DAC of CO 2 was developed by harnessing the power of CaO- and SIL-engineered sorbents. Deploying mesoporous silica as the substrate, a thin CaO layer was first introduced to consume the surface-OH groups, and then active sites with different basicities (e. g., triazolate and imidazolate) were introduced as a uniformly distributed thin layer. The as-obtained sorbents displayed high CO 2 uptake capacity via volumetric (at 0.4 mbar) and breakthrough test (400 ppm CO 2 source), rapid interaction kinetics, facile CO 2 releasing, and stable sorption/desorption cycles. Operando diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transformation spectroscopy (DRIFTS) analysis under simulated air atmosphere and solid-state NMR under 13 CO 2 atmosphere demonstrated the critical roles of the SIL species in low-concentration CO 2 capture. The fundamental insights obtained in this work provide guidance on the development of high-performance sorbents in DAC of CO 2 by leveraging the combined advantages of porous solid scaffolds and the unique features of CO 2 -philic ionic liquids.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

How to Decarbonize Our Energy Systems: Process‐Informed Design of New Materials for Carbon Capture

Decarbonisation from a variety of industrial and power emission sectors highlights a marked need for capture technologies that can be optimized for different CO 2 sources and integrated into an equally diverse range of applications of captured CO 2 as a feedstock. Some capture technologies are already operated at an industrial scale but may not be optimal for all required applications. Advanced tailored sorbent-based technologies allow flexible operation and reduced costs as they offer higher capture capacities and significantly lower energy penalties than the state-of-the-art systems. To accelerate the discovery, development, and deployment of novel advanced materials, it is critically important that efforts between experimentalists, theoreticians, and process engineers are coordinated. The PrISMa project addresses this challenge by integrating materials design with process design and environmental considerations to allow for tailor-making carbon capture solutions optimally tuned for local sources and sinks. In this article, we highlight some of the recent results obtained with the PrISMa platform.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Techno-economic and environmental life cycle assessment of next-generation fiber-encapsulated nanoscale hybrid materials for direct air carbon capture

A techno-economic and environmental life cycle assessment was conducted for manufacturing two novel types of solid sorbents used for direct air CO 2 capture (DAC). One type of solid sorbent comprised Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/Organopolysilizane (OPSZ)/nanoscale organic hybrid materials (NOHM)(, and the other comprised polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM)/NOHM. These solid sorbents were assumed to be manufactured via an unconventional route: electrospinning as fibers. Economic analyses revealed that manufacturing costs for a 0.73 MT/year capacity plant was $\$$831 and $\$$1398/kg of electrospun fiber in the case ofPAN/OPSZ/NOHM and PIM/NOHM, respectively. The costs were higher for PIM/NOHM owing to high raw material prices (Spirobisindane and tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile), that are used only in manufacturing PIM. Scaling up the plant capacity from 0.73 to 30 MT/year plant decreased the manufacturing cost by nearly half from $\$$831 to $\$$379 in the case of PAN/OPSZ/NOHM, depicting the economies of scale of effect. An LCA of both types of solid sorbent was performed using OpenLCA software, the Ecoinvent v 3.5 database, and the TRACI LCI assessment method. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) ofPAN/OPSZ/NOHM and PIM/NOHM was observed to be 151 × 10 -3 and 166 × 10 -3 kg CO 2 per kg CO 2 captured in the DAC plant, respectively. In conclusion, these GWP values were nearly five times as high as those observed for other solid sorbents existing in the literature such as PEI on silica gel, carbonate on silica, and carbonate on activated carbon owing to large amounts of electricity used in electrospinning unit operation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Sorption-enhanced steam reforming of toluene using multifunctional perovskite phase transition sorbents in a chemical looping scheme

Abstract Sorption-enhanced steam reforming (SESR) of toluene (SESRT) using catalytic CO 2 sorbents is a promising route to convert the aromatic tar byproducts formed in lignocellulosic biomass gasification into hydrogen (H 2 ) or H 2 -rich syngas. Commonly used sorbents such as CaO are effective in capturing CO 2 initially but are prone to lose their sorption capacity over repeated cycles due to sintering at high temperatures. Herein, we present a demonstration of SESRT using A- and B-site doped Sr 1− x A’ x Fe 1− y B’ y O 3− δ (A’ = Ba, Ca; B’ = Co) perovskites in a chemical looping scheme. We found that surface impregnation of 5–10 mol% Ni on the perovskite was effective in improving toluene conversion. However, upon cycling, the impregnated Ni tends to migrate into the bulk and lose activity. This prompted the adoption of a dual bed configuration using a pre-bed of NiO/ γ –Al 2 O 3 catalyst upstream of the sorbent. A comparison is made between isothermal operation and a more traditional temperature-swing mode, where for the latter, an average sorption capacity of ∼38% was witnessed over five SESR cycles with H 2 -rich product syngas evidenced by a ratio of H 2 : CO x > 4.0. XRD analysis of fresh and cycled samples of Sr 0.25 Ba 0.75 Fe 0.375 Co 0.625 O 3- δ reveal that this material is an effective phase transition sorbent—capable of cyclically capturing and releasing CO 2 without irreversible phase changes occurring.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Isotherm Model for Moisture-Controlled CO 2 Sorption

Moisture-controlled sorption of CO 2 , the basis for moisture-swing CO 2 capture from air, is a novel phenomenon observed in strong-base anion exchange materials. Prior research has shown that Langmuir isotherms provide an approximate fit to moisture-controlled CO 2 sorption isotherm data. However, this fit still lacks a governing equation derived from an analytic model. As such, in this paper we derive an analytic form for an isotherm equation from a bottom-up approach, starting with a fundamental theory for an alkali liquid. In the range of interest relevant to CO 2 capture from air, an isotherm equation for an alkali liquid reduces to a simple analytic form with a single parameter, $K_{\text{eq}}$. In the limit $K_{\text{eq}} \gg 1$, a 2nd order approximation simplifies to a Langmuir isotherm that, however, deviates from experimental data. The isotherm theory for an alkali liquid has been generalized to a strong-base anion exchange material. In a strong-base anion exchange material, water concentration inside a sorbent, [H 2 O], is not large enough to be regarded as constant, which allows us to extend $K_{\text{eq}}$ to $K_{\text{eq(AEM)eff}} = K_{\text{eq(AEM)}} \times$ [H 2 O]$^{–n}$ according to the law of mass action. The final isotherm formula has been validated by experimental data from the literature. For a moisture-controlled CO 2 sorbent, $K_{\text{eq(AEM)eff}}$ varies significantly with moisture content of the sorbent. Depending on moisture level, the observed $K_{\text{eq(AEM)eff}}$ in a specific sorbent ranges from a few times to a few thousand times the value of $K_{\text{eq}}$ of a 2 mol L –1 alkali liquid.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Targeted Rare Earth Element Extraction from Mine Drainage Treatment Solids Informed by Advanced Characterization

In support of a clean energy transition in the U.S., National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has collaborated with staff at Hedin Environmental and students at the University of Pittsburgh to characterize critical mineral content and recovery potential from acid mine drainage treatment solids (AMD solids). AMD solids in Appalachia are an unconventional feedstock of rare earth elements (REEs), with potential of suppling 1,102 tons REE/year. To inform recovery efforts, select AMD solids were examined using synchrotron microprobe analysis in conjunction with USGS-developed geochemical modeling to indicate likely phases hosting critical minerals (REE, Co, Ni, etc.) and associated metals . More than 100 AMD solids were collected from 94 passive AMD treatment systems in Pennsylvania, where limestone aggregates are used for acidity neutralization. As pH increases, dissolved metals and critical minerals in AMD are attenuated as surface coatings on limestone. The collected AMD solids contained up to 2000 mg/kg REE, up to 13,000 mg/kg transition metals (Co, Ni, Zn) and up to 440 mg/kg Li. Regardless of the diverse chemical compositions from AMD solids (Al-rich, Mn-rich, or Al,Fe,Mn-rich), REEs were mostly associated with Al and Mn (hydr)oxides, while select heavy REEs (e.g., Gd, Dy) were co-localized with Fe (hydr)oxides. Co and Ni have different distribution zones, while both co-localized with Mn (hydr)oxides. Based on this characterization, NETL developed a patent-pending innovative step-leaching protocol, “Targeted Rare Earth Extraction (TREE)” to effectively recover up to 90% REE and 60% Co in separate steps. In addition, select post-TREE solid residuals (purified Al oxides, or Mn oxides) can be further developed into functional materials (e.g., lithium and CO2 sorbents) needed for green energy transition and carbon management. This characterization-informed approach as well as TREE processing from AMD solids can be used for other legacy wastes (e.g., coal ash, oil and gas drill cutting, mine tailings), and offers an opportunity to transform waste streams into environmental and economic assets that meet U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency goals.

characterization and extraction of rare earth elem↗

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between National Energy Technology Laboratory and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) [Abstract]

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture from flue gas generated by fossil fuel-fired power plants has been proposed as an efficient approach to limit CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere. Due to the high cyclic CO 2 sorption capacity, well-tuned adsorption chemistry and non-volatility, solid sorbents are widely studied for CO 2 capture processes such as pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and temperature swing adsorption (TSA). Realistic applications of traditional solid sorbent systems face many challenges since moisture and heat management are problematic and solid-solid heat exchange is inefficient. Recently, a novel solid sorbent system, the sorbent polymer composite (SPC), has been developed to overcome those challenges in an energy-saving CO 2 capture process using TSA membrane contactors. A SPC material is comprised of a powdered solid sorbent embedded into a hydrophobic and porous polymer matrix. It allows gases to permeate through and achieve full contact with the sorbents while rejecting water moisture in the CO 2 capture process. In this collaborative research, NETL will conduct performance testing of a novel SPC material and EPRI will conduct a cost analysis based on that performance data.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Iodine Capture by Ag-Loaded Solid Sorbents Followed by Ag Recycling and Iodine Immobilization: An End-to-End Process

Here, this article demonstrates the complete process of I 2(g) capture using Ag-exchanged faujasite (AgX) and Ag-exchanged mordenite (AgZ) zeolite sorbents, the recovery of Ag for recyclability of iodine capture, and the immobilization of iodide (from the elution process) into an iodosodalite waste form, which is chemically and environmentally stable. The gaseous iodine, I 2(g) , was captured in the AgX via chemisorption by Ag and converted to AgI within the aluminosilicate zeolite frameworks. The elution reaction in Na 2 S resulted in the precipitation of Ag 2 S and dissolution of I – and Na + into the aqueous solution, where powdered sorbent showed higher conversion efficiency than the granular form, which is attributed to Na 2 S-solution diffusion limitations in the granules. The Ag 2 S-containing aluminosilicate precipitates were filtered out of the solution, and the filtrate (aqueous solution) was used to synthesize iodosodalite to immobilize iodide. The iodine capture using the recovered Ag 2 S-containing sorbents shows equivalent iodine loadings to the AgX starting material of Q e = 0.355 g/g for powdered material and 0.255 g/g for granular material, demonstrating the potential recycling of Ag for iodine capture as Ag 2 S-based sorbents.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Breaking the trade-off between selectivity and adsorption capacity for gas separation

It is generally recognized that porous solids (sorbents) with high selectivity and high adsorption capacity offer potential for energy-efficient gas separations. Unfortunately, there is generally a trade-off between capacity and selectivity, which represents a roadblock to the utility of sorbents in key industrial processes. For example, acetylene (C 2 H 2 ), an important fuel and chemical intermediate, is produced with CO 2 as an impurity, and the similar physicochemical properties of C 2 H 2 and CO 2 mean that most sorbents are poorly selective. Hybrid ultramicroporous materials (HUMs) are candidates for gas separations as they exhibit benchmark selectivity for several key gas pairs. Unfortunately, existing HUMs are handicapped by low capacity. Here, we report a new HUM, SIFSIX-21-Ni, that addresses the trade-off between selectivity and capacity that has plagued sorbents, as its high uptake and high selectivity renders it the new benchmark for C 2 H 2 /CO 2 separation performance.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Iodine capture with mechanically robust heat-treated Ag-Al-Si-O xerogel sorbents

Silver-loaded heat-treated aluminosilicate xerogels (Ag-HTX) were evaluated as sorbents for iodine [I2(g)] capture. The heat treatment step was performed to help increase the mechanical integrity of the gels. The synthesized xerogels were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, gravimetric iodine loading, nanoindentation, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The structural and chemical analyses of Ag-HTX showed uniform distribution of Ag throughout the gel network after Ag-exchange. After I2(g) capture, the AgI crystallites were observed in the sorbent verifying chemisorption as the iodine capture mechanism. Iodine loading of this xerogel was 0.43 g g-1 at 150°C over 1 d and 0.52 g g-1 at 22°C over 33 d. The specific surface area of Ag-HTX was 202 m2 g-1 and decreased to 87 m2 g-1 after iodine loading. The hardness of the heat-treated xerogel was 160 times higher than heat-treated aerogel of the same composition. The heat-treatment process increased the modulus value to 40.77 MPa from 6.99 MPa of as-made xerogel, demonstrating the need for this added step in the synthesis process. These results show that Ag-HTX is a promising sorbent for I2(g) capture with good loading capacity and mechanical stability.

xerogels, aerogels, iodine capture, hardness testi↗

Sorbent system for removing ammonia and organic compounds from a gaseous environment

A first process and sorbent for removing ammonia from a gaseous environment, the sorbent comprised of graphene oxide having supported thereon at least one compound selected from metal salts, metal oxides and acids, each of which is capable of adsorbing ammonia. A second process and sorbent system for removing ammonia and a volatile organic compound from a gaseous environment; the sorbent system comprised of two graphene-based materials: (a) the aforementioned graphene oxide, and (b) a nitrogen and oxygen-functionalized graphene. The sorbents are regenerable under a pressure gradient with little or no application of heat. The processes are operable through multiple adsorption-desorption cycles and are applicable to purifying and revitalizing air contaminated with ammonia and organic compounds as may be found in spacesuits, aerospace cabins, underwater vehicles, and other confined-entry environments.

Junaedi, Christian↗

Integrating crystallographic and computational approaches to carbon-capture materials for the mitigation of climate change

Here, this article presents an overview of the current state of the art in the structure determination of microporous carbon-capture materials, as discussed at the recent NIST workshop “Integrating Crystallographic and Computational Approaches to Carbon-Capture Materials for the Mitigation of Climate Change”. The continual rise in anthropogenic CO 2 concentration and its effect on climate change call for the implementation of carbon capture technologies to reduce the CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere. Porous solids, including metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), are feasible candidates for gas capture and storage applications. However, determining the structure of these materials represents a significant obstacle in their development into advanced sorbents. The existing difficulties can be overcome by integrating crystallographic methods and theoretical modeling. The workshop gathered experimentalists and theorists from academia, government, and industry to review this field and identify approaches, including collaborative opportunities, required to develop tools for rapid determination of the structures of porous solid sorbents and the effect of structure on the carbon capture performance. We highlight the findings of that workshop, especially in the need for reference materials, standardized procedures and reporting of sorbent activation and adsorption measurements, standardized reporting of theoretical calculations, and round-robin structure determination.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Iodine solid sorbent design: a literature review of the critical criteria for consideration

Designing sorbents for iodine capture in different conditions requires selection and optimization of a large and diverse range of variables. These variables fall into general categories (or features) of sorbent activity, sorbent stability, and the fate of the loaded material in terms of the disposal (waste form) options available. To illustrate, silver-loaded, high-porosity sorbents make for maximized iodine capture and less pressure drop in a column-based sorption system approach, however, this high porosity can lead to less mechanically stable sorbents. Additionally, waste forms containing silver must also be compliant with additional criteria for hazardous waste disposal. Thus, all these aspects must be considered simultaneously when selecting a sorbent for utilization under specific conditions. Information is given for different types of sorbent design considerations for different operating conditions and some emphasis is also given on promising alternatives for silver as the active (chemisorption-based) getter metal. Discussion is given around demonstrated options for waste forms for different metal-iodide compounds.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Computational Study of Mixing Solid Materials for CO2 Capture Technology

CO2 is one of the major combustion products that, once released into the air, can contribute to global climate change. Solid sorbents have been reported as promising candidates for CO2 sorbent applications due to their high CO2 absorption capacities at moderate working temperatures. By combining thermodynamic database mining with first-principles density functional theory and phonon lattice dynamics calculations, the National Energy Technology Laboratory has proposed and validated a theoretical screening methodology to identify the most promising CO2 sorbent candidates from a vast array of possible solid materials. The advantage of this method is that it identifies the thermodynamic properties of the CO2 capture reaction as a function of temperature and gas pressure without any experimental input beyond crystallographic structural information of the solid phases involved. The calculated thermodynamic properties of solid materials versus temperature and pressure changes were further used to evaluate the equilibrium properties for the CO2 adsorption/desorption cycles. The selected CO2 sorbent candidates were further considered for experimental validations. In this presentation, the results of M2O/Al2O3 (M=Li, Na, K) mixtures (MAlO2 and M5AlO4) capturing CO2 will be demonstrated in detail.

Duan, Yuhua↗

Material Design Strategies for Recovery of Critical Resources from Water

Population growth, urbanization, and decarbonization efforts are collectively straining the supply of limited resources that are necessary to produce batteries, electronics, chemicals, fertilizers, and other important products. Securing the supply chains of these critical resources via the development of separation technologies for their recovery represents a major global challenge to ensure stability and security. Surface water, groundwater, and wastewater are emerging as potential new sources to bolster these supply chains. Recently, a variety of material-based technologies have been developed and employed for separations and resource recovery in water. Judicious selection and design of these materials to tune their properties for targeting specific solutes is central to realizing the potential of water as a source for critical resources. Here, the materials that are developed for membranes, sorbents, catalysts, electrodes, and interfacial solar steam generators that demonstrate promise for applications in critical resource recovery are reviewed. In addition, a critical perspective is offered on the grand challenges and key research directions that need to be addressed to improve their practical viability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗