Scientists from the University of York, in the UK, have developed a method using Starbons that they say can capture up to 65% more carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power stations, chemical plants and other large-scale manufacturing facilities than existing technologies.

Current widespread methods of carbon capture, such as amine treating, use liquid solutions for the treatment of emissions from chemical plants and refineries. However, these are typically expensive to run, require significant input energy and have a relatively low output.

The researchers plan to offer Starbons as a commercial capture agent for separating CO2 from chemical or power station waste streams. Image credit: Pixabay. Made from waste biomass, including food peelings and seaweed, Starbons were discovered and first reported on 10 years ago by the York Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence. The synthetic makeup of Starbons—a family of mesoporous materials derived from polysaccharides—gives them greater absorption than conventional methods, according to the researchers.

Starbons are more selective in capturing CO2 when mixed with nitrogen, with results showing a capture rate of 20:1 compared to 5:1 for traditional methods. The materials also retain their CO2 absorption and selectivity in the presence of water and have extremely fast rates of CO2 absorption and desorption.

“This work is of fundamental importance in overturning established wisdom associated with gas capture by solids," says Michael North, professor of green chemistry. "It defies current accepted scientific understanding of the efficiency of carbon capturing CO2 and has the potential to be of significant commercial and governmental value in helping the UK meet its CO2 emissions reduction promises."

The York researchers say that using the renewable materials would provide a greener, more efficient and selective approach than other commercial systems of reducing emissions. They plan to offer the product as a commercial capture agent for separating CO2 from chemical or power station waste streams.