Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DAM4CO2 (Double-Active Membranes for a sustainable CO2 cycle)
Reporting period: 2023-11-01 to 2024-10-31
The exploitation of fossil fuels brought our ecosystem on the edge of catastrophic changes. Mankind’s current challenge is to reverse the increase of greenhouse gases emissions to mitigate the serious consequences on the global climate.
In this scenario, the transition of modern society to a more sustainable and circular economy must be accelerated. One of the key pillars of this transition is the implementation of a sustainable CO2 cycle, based on net-zero emissions Carbon Capture and Utilization processes. Membrane-based technologies could play a pivotal role to bring this vision closer to reality. Indeed, thanks to their high efficiency, scalability, easy operability, they are candidates for the efficient capture and use of CO2 The goal of DAM4CO2 is to develop a novel membrane technology, for the simultaneous CO2 separation and its photocatalytic conversion to C4+ molecules, as renewable fuels. DAM4CO2 overcomes the conventional membrane technologies by developing double active membranes (DAMs) with a durable and highly selective gas separation layer and a photocatalytic layer able to simultaneously combine in one pot reverse water gas shift (RWGS) and Fisher-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) to obtain C4+ molecules. The project will deliver a prototype, designed using the design-build-test-learn approach, for a proof-of-concept validation that will be tested in lab-conditions. Close attention is paid to the use of non-critical raw materials at any stage of the process, and the carbon-neutrality of the entire process is certified by a full life cycle analysis. DAM4CO2 marries the complementary expertise of our team in the areas of organic, inorganic, physical chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, for the development, synthesis, and characterization of the starting materials, and for the design, construction, and application of membrane modules. At the end, DAM4CO2 will implement a sustainable, cost and energy effective net zero carbon CO2 cycle.
In this scenario, the transition of modern society to a more sustainable and circular economy must be accelerated. One of the key pillars of this transition is the implementation of a sustainable CO2 cycle, based on net-zero emissions Carbon Capture and Utilization processes. Membrane-based technologies could play a pivotal role to bring this vision closer to reality. Indeed, thanks to their high efficiency, scalability, easy operability, they are candidates for the efficient capture and use of CO2 The goal of DAM4CO2 is to develop a novel membrane technology, for the simultaneous CO2 separation and its photocatalytic conversion to C4+ molecules, as renewable fuels. DAM4CO2 overcomes the conventional membrane technologies by developing double active membranes (DAMs) with a durable and highly selective gas separation layer and a photocatalytic layer able to simultaneously combine in one pot reverse water gas shift (RWGS) and Fisher-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) to obtain C4+ molecules. The project will deliver a prototype, designed using the design-build-test-learn approach, for a proof-of-concept validation that will be tested in lab-conditions. Close attention is paid to the use of non-critical raw materials at any stage of the process, and the carbon-neutrality of the entire process is certified by a full life cycle analysis. DAM4CO2 marries the complementary expertise of our team in the areas of organic, inorganic, physical chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, for the development, synthesis, and characterization of the starting materials, and for the design, construction, and application of membrane modules. At the end, DAM4CO2 will implement a sustainable, cost and energy effective net zero carbon CO2 cycle.
In the first reporting period, DAM4CO2 has achieved all the planned deliverables and milestones. The activities have been focused on the synthesis of the first-generation materials and membranes, the preparation of greener porous supports and modelling at different scales, i.e. molecular modelling via machine learning, membrane modules evaluation via computational fluid dynamics, techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment.
In particular, the consortium has been able to synthetize and characterize innovative materials for both capture and conversion, i.e. soluble and insoluble Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs), Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), and photocatalysts. All these materials have been synthetized without the use of critical raw materials, with the exclusion of the ones prepared as a benchmark. The materials produced within DAM4CO2 have been used for the preparation of flat sheet membranes that have been characterized as well in terms of capture and conversion properties. In addition, porous support using green solvents have been also produced, and will used in the next reporting periods for the preparation of the thin film composite membranes.
For what concern the multiscale modelling, a novel machine learning algorithm was developed for the prediction of gas permeation parameters of polymeric membranes and, it will be adapted in the next period to forecast the best mixed matrix membranes compositions. Novel configuration of the Hollow Fibre Membrane Reactors including the transparency and the temperature and pressure stability/resistance via CFD, and a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of a conventional process for C4+ fuel production from CO2 for future comparison. Preliminary LCA data show that the materials produced in DAM4CO2 are in the same range of literature materials, and we will now focus on making them more sustainable.
In particular, the consortium has been able to synthetize and characterize innovative materials for both capture and conversion, i.e. soluble and insoluble Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs), Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), and photocatalysts. All these materials have been synthetized without the use of critical raw materials, with the exclusion of the ones prepared as a benchmark. The materials produced within DAM4CO2 have been used for the preparation of flat sheet membranes that have been characterized as well in terms of capture and conversion properties. In addition, porous support using green solvents have been also produced, and will used in the next reporting periods for the preparation of the thin film composite membranes.
For what concern the multiscale modelling, a novel machine learning algorithm was developed for the prediction of gas permeation parameters of polymeric membranes and, it will be adapted in the next period to forecast the best mixed matrix membranes compositions. Novel configuration of the Hollow Fibre Membrane Reactors including the transparency and the temperature and pressure stability/resistance via CFD, and a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of a conventional process for C4+ fuel production from CO2 for future comparison. Preliminary LCA data show that the materials produced in DAM4CO2 are in the same range of literature materials, and we will now focus on making them more sustainable.
DAM4CO2’s has progressed beyond the state of the art in both scientific basic knowledge and innovation pathways toward application.
In fact, many of the materials/components that have been synthetized/prepared during the first reporting period are at the forefront of their fields, and they can be exploited together in the double active membrane concept or as stand-alone product for close application.
For instance, we have been able to produce organic and inorganic filler with increased compatibility with the polymer matrix and with a nanometric size that will allow the preparation of defect free mixed matrix membranes. However, these materials show also similar or even higher capture capability with respect to many solid sorbents currently used and thus they can be exploited as stand-alone material. Similarly, novel soluble polymers of intrinsic microporosity have been prepared with performance that are like the state-of-the-art materials but requiring fewer synthetic steps. Photocatalytic materials have been also produced without the use of critical raw materials. Many of these materials have been already produced at gram scale, showing that they can be easily scaled-up and exploited. Moreover, the characterization protocols that have been implemented in DAM4CO2 for the deep characterization of these materials, can be used as a standard in different fields.
We have been also able to fabricate and test porous supports and flat sheet membranes for capture of conversion using green routes/solvents, making their production more sustainable. Again, these supports, membranes and preparation procedures can be exploited as stand-alone products.
Moreover, DAM4CO2 made also progress in all the computational tools involved in the project, such as a novel machine learning algorithm to predict the gas transport performance of the materials, and novel membrane module design(s).
Progress beyond the state of the art is also expected for the techno-economic and life cycle assessments in the next reporting period by using data performed in DAM4CO2.
In fact, many of the materials/components that have been synthetized/prepared during the first reporting period are at the forefront of their fields, and they can be exploited together in the double active membrane concept or as stand-alone product for close application.
For instance, we have been able to produce organic and inorganic filler with increased compatibility with the polymer matrix and with a nanometric size that will allow the preparation of defect free mixed matrix membranes. However, these materials show also similar or even higher capture capability with respect to many solid sorbents currently used and thus they can be exploited as stand-alone material. Similarly, novel soluble polymers of intrinsic microporosity have been prepared with performance that are like the state-of-the-art materials but requiring fewer synthetic steps. Photocatalytic materials have been also produced without the use of critical raw materials. Many of these materials have been already produced at gram scale, showing that they can be easily scaled-up and exploited. Moreover, the characterization protocols that have been implemented in DAM4CO2 for the deep characterization of these materials, can be used as a standard in different fields.
We have been also able to fabricate and test porous supports and flat sheet membranes for capture of conversion using green routes/solvents, making their production more sustainable. Again, these supports, membranes and preparation procedures can be exploited as stand-alone products.
Moreover, DAM4CO2 made also progress in all the computational tools involved in the project, such as a novel machine learning algorithm to predict the gas transport performance of the materials, and novel membrane module design(s).
Progress beyond the state of the art is also expected for the techno-economic and life cycle assessments in the next reporting period by using data performed in DAM4CO2.