Integrating CO2 capture and utilisation using dual functional materials and efficient induction heating

Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and renewable energy utilisation are the two pillars for the decarbonisation of UK’s industrial clusters, which produce more than 36Mt CO2 per year, mostly through the flue gas from energy intensive sectors such as refining, cement, chemicals, etc. However, one of the key challenges for the wide adoption of CCU and renewable technologies is the intermittence feature for both renewable energy generation and sometimes flue gas emission. This project aims to develop an integrated in-situ CCU solution coupling renewable hydrogen utilisation with CCU to produce syngas (CO and H2), which can be converted to liquid fuels and chemicals using commercial-ready technologies. The intensified CO2 capture and utilisation combine the regeneration of sorbent and the conversion of the captured CO2 into a single step, offering a much higher overall energy efficiency and potentially significant cost reduction compared to conventional CCU. Such a process is achieved by the development of multifunctional catalytic sorbents and the application of external fast-response heating to balance the thermodynamics of reactions for CO2 capture and CO2 utilisation. Since CO2 capture and the conversion of captured CO2 require different temperatures, applying induction heating can enable these reactions within a fixed reactor, avoiding the circulating of materials between two reactors and enhancing heat transfer within the reactor. The project is co-funded by Surface Measurement Systems (https://surfacemeasurementsystems.com), based in London. The student is expected to work closely with SMS, including secondment.

Funding for this project is for 3 years and applicants should contact Professor Chunfei Wu ([email protected]) for any queries related to the project.

 Applications will only be considered if they are submitted via the QUB Direct Application portal https://myportal.qub.ac.uk/SignIn?ReturnUrl=%2Fpg-admission-application-list%2F