Direct Air Capture (DAC) of CO2 & the Important Role of Porous Materials in DAC Technology

October 27, 2021

Visión general

Most current climate models suggest that limiting warming to less than 2°C will require large scale deployment of negative emissions technologies (NETs). NETs, which remove CO2 from the atmosphere, are projected to be needed at a scale of 10 Gt/y by 2050, yet today, virtually none of been deployed. NETs may be natural or technological, with one of the most scalable technological approaches being the direct capture of CO2 from the air, or “direct air capture” (DAC). Because of the ultra-dilute nature of air, the separation of CO2 from this mixture presents a significant engineering challenge.

In this lecture, Professor Chris Jones, of Georgia Tech, will describe the design and synthesis, characterization and application of oxide-supported amine materials that his team have developed as cornerstones of new technologies for the removal of CO2 from dilute (flue gas) and ultra-dilute (air) gas streams.

Professor Jones will describe the development of these materials, how they integrate into scalable DAC technologies, as well as their key physicochemical structure-property relationships. DAC technologies offer an interesting case study for the parallel design of materials, unit operations, and processes in chemical engineering.

Speaker

Dr. Chris Jones

Dr. Chris Jones

Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Dr. Jones, born in suburban Detroit in 1973, pursued a distinguished academic and research career in chemical engineering. He completed his BSE, MS, and PhD degrees at the University of Michigan and Caltech, specializing in inorganic materials chemistry and catalysis. Jones joined Georgia Tech in 2000 and rose through the ranks to become a professor and hold various leadership roles in research administration. His research focuses on catalysis, CO2 separation, and utilization, notably in direct air capture (DAC). Jones has received numerous accolades, including the Ipatieff Prize and Emmett Award, for his catalysis work, and has been recognized by professional societies like AIChE and the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to carbon capture technologies. He has led prominent journals in catalysis and received substantial research funding, reflecting his impactful career in chemical engineering.

Available On Demand