posted on 2017-09-12, 00:00authored byPrakash
C. Sahoo, Manoj Kumar, Amardeep Singh, Mahendara P. Singh, Suresh K. Puri
The existing solvent-mediated
CO2 capture process is
energy-intensive as a result of the high-temperature requirement for
solvent regeneration. Therefore, improvement of solvent systems for
optimized and low-energy-intensive CO2 capture and desorption
is of enormous interest. In this regard, we report a novel matrix
composed of ZnO/Fe2O3-encapsulated mesoporous
silica-tethered thermostable carbonic anhydrase (CA) (designated as
CA@fn-Zn/Fe/MS). The enzyme-coupled matrix was used
for efficient post-combustion CO2 capture and low-energy-intensive
desorption. It was observed that the use of CA@fn-Zn/Fe/MS (0.5 wt %) in 30% monoethanolamine (MEA) enhances the CO2 uptake to 0.82 mol/mol of solvent and the regeneration efficiency
by 2.6 times compared to neat MEA at 30 wt %. The enzyme-coupled matrix
is stable over a broad range of pH and can be used for several cycles.
The development adds value to improve conventional amine-based CO2 scrubbing technology.