A novel approach to the removal of CO{sub 2}

The removal of CO{sub 2} from gas streams is becoming increasingly significant in the field of energy production. A porous monolithic activated carbon material (CFCMS) has been developed that is both strong and rigid, yet is permeable, and thus offers little resistance to the free-flow of fluids. The material has a unique combination of properties, including reasonable compressive strength, electrical conductivity, a large micropore volume, and a large CO{sub 2} adsorption capacity. At 30{degrees}C and atmospheric pressure, CFCMS has a CO{sub 2} uptake >100 mg/g. The uptake is reduced at elevated temperatures, dropping to {approximately}40 mg/g at 100{degrees}C. However, the CO{sub 2} uptake increases substantially with pressure, such that at 25{degrees}C and 58 bar the mass of CO{sub 2} adsorbed is >490 mg/g. The ability of CFCMS to selectively remove CO{sub 2} from a CO{sub 2}/CH{sub 4} gas mixture is demonstrated in a series of breakthrough experiments. The unique combination of properties of CFCMS has been exploited to effect the rapid desorption of CO{sub 2} under the influence of a low applied dc voltage