Enabling Net Zero Emissions Targets through Post Combustion Capture (PCC) of CO2 Using Amine-based Emerging Technology

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is one of the key activities that will allow anthropogenic carbon emissions to reach net zero and net negative in time to avoid dangerous climate change. Most large-scale CCS operations rely on amine solvents for post-combustion CO₂ capture, but these amines degrade over time and are also damaged by impurities in the gases being processed. This is especially the case for applications such as capture from waste combustion (a key application because it also generates negative emissions from capturing the CO₂ from the biomass in the waste) where high levels of NOx, SOx and ash can cause a reduction in the carbon absorption capacity of the amines. Maintaining amine solvent quality by reclaiming the ‘good’ solvent for re-use and rejecting the impurities for disposal or alternative uses is critical in the success of a capture plant. This project will study the effect of solvent degradation, arising from different process conditions and types of flue gas impurities, on the thermal reclaiming of monoethanolamine (MEA) and other solvents.

 The research work will be based in the Energy Engineering Group within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, which is a part of the Energy 2050 initiative within the University of Sheffield to develop world-leading activity in energy research. The student will be working within an exciting and dynamic group with approximately 40 PhD researchers and over 12 postdoctoral research fellows undertaking a broad area of energy research with strong links to industry. This project is also of immediate industrial interest and it is expected that there will also be opportunities to visit and collaborate with capture plant developers, operators and researchers in the UK and abroad.

 The Department of Mechanical Engineering has been a major discipline in the University since its foundation in 1905. The Research Excellence Framework (REF, December 2014) placed the Department within the Top 5 for Mechanical Engineering in the UK.

 For further information please contact Dr. Abby Samson ([Email Address Removed]) or Professor Derek B Ingham ([Email Address Removed])