Innovative Gas Separations for Carbon Capture - Research Interests of the Consortium

The multi-disciplinary research teams collaborating on this project are all internationally leading groups which are at the forefront of research in the development of materials and processes for gas separations. The consortium is developing methodologies for the rapid synthesis and screening of novel materials and solvents for carbon capture from power plants. Detailed models for both steady state and dynamic power production cycles are being developed. Novel materials, such as metal-organic frameworks and zeolites, mesoporous materials with surface groups, polymers of intrinsic microporosity, and mixed matrix materials, are also being developed. The research will focus on absorption, adsorption and membrane processes, combining molecular modelling and advanced process modelling in order to develop reliable predictions of process performance.

St. Andrews University

St. Andrews is looking at the synthesis, characterisation and application of porous solids. The work at St Andrews will bring to the consortium synthesis and characterisation capability of various zeolites, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), surface modified mesoporous silicas and crystalline metal phosphonates.

Cardiff University

The group at Cardiff brings to the consortium the synthesis capability of polymeric materials which can be used as membranes and adsorbents.

University of Edinburgh

The group at Edinburgh brings to the consortium expertise in: (i) experimental measurement of equilibrium and kinetic properties of porous solids; (ii) molecular modelling of the synthesis of nanoporous materials and their interaction with guest molecules; and (iii) dynamic modelling of adsorption processes.

Imperial College London

The group at Imperial brings to the consortium expertise in thermodynamic modelling of fluid mixtures, including design of solvents for CO2 capture; numerical methods and modelling techniques in process systems engineering; MEA scrubbing for carbon capture from power stations; measurement of absorption and reaction in liquid solvents and fundamental knowledge of electrochemistry and corrosion mechanisms.

University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is active in the development of PIMs and molecular modelling of gas adsorption. Their work will involve extending the types of monomer and polymerization reaction suitable for the formation of PIMs. They will bring expertise in the development of novel materials for carbon capture; molecular modelling of adsorption in PIMs; experimental characterisation of membranes, with expertise in polymeric and zeolite membranes.

University College London

UCL Chemical Engineering will be concentrating on the development of modelling and optimisation techniques. The eventual aim is the development of a multi-objective optimisation framework which will investigate the integration of alternative carbon capture technologies, such as PSA and membranes, within a power plant. Graphical tools will be developed to provide the interface for engineers to explore the design alternatives, gaining insight into the key features that would promote efficiency in integrated power plants with carbon capture.

Publication: G Fiandaca, E S Fraga & S Brandani (2009). A multi-objective genetic algorithm for the design of pressure swing adsorption, Engineering Optimization 41 (9):833-854, DOI: 10.1080/03052150903074189.

From left to right: Stefano Brandani (Edin), Xiao Guo (UCL), Zoe Kapetaki (Edin), Jonathan Tan (UCL), Eric Hu (Edin), Hyungwoong Ahn (Edin), Magdalena Lozinska (St Andrews), Wenli Dang (Edin), Lev Sarkisov (Edin), Paul Wright (St Andrews), Tina Düren (Edin), Leigh Murray (Edin), Russell Morris (St Andrews), Neil McKeown (Cardiff), Linjiang Chen (Edin), Eric Fraga (UCL), Hosna Shamsipour (Manchester), Peter Budd (Manchester), Daniel Friedrich (Edin), Danlu Tong (Imperial), Joakim Back (UCL), George Jackson (
From left to right: Stefano Brandani (Edin), Xiao Guo (UCL), Zoe Kapetaki (Edin), Jonathan Tan (UCL), Eric Hu (Edin), Hyungwoong Ahn (Edin), Magdalena Lozinska (St Andrews), Wenli Dang (Edin), Lev Sarkisov (Edin), Paul Wright (St Andrews), Tina Düren (Edin), Leigh Murray (Edin), Russell Morris (St Andrews), Neil McKeown (Cardiff), Linjiang Chen (Edin), Eric Fraga (UCL), Hosna Shamsipour (Manchester), Peter Budd (Manchester), Daniel Friedrich (Edin), Danlu Tong (Imperial), Joakim Back (UCL), George Jackson (Imperial), Matthew Croad (Cardiff), Charles Brand (Imperial), Paul Fennell (Imperial).