RTI International Awarded Grant to Develop Novel Solid Sorbent CO2 Capture Technology with Masdar, Pennsylvania State University

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.—RTI International has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a more cost-effective and energy-efficient carbon dioxide capture technology for fossil fuel-burning power plants and other industrial carbon dioxide sources.

Abu Dhabi-based Masdar, a commercially driven enterprise established in 2006 that operates across the full spectrum of the renewable energy and sustainable technology industry, is providing co-funding to the project and will be heavily involved in the development of this novel technology. Other development partners include Pennsylvania State University (PSU), Süd-Chemie, Inc., and Foster Wheeler USA.

As part of the $3.9 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. DOE, the project team will develop and demonstrate an advanced, solid sorbent-based CO₂ capture process using novel "molecular basket sorbent" (MBS) materials in actual coal and natural gas-fired power plant facilities.

The process has significant potential to meet the DOE's performance target of capturing 90 percent of CO₂ emissions without increasing the cost of producing electricity at a coal-fired power plant by more than 35 percent.

"This novel process can substantially reduce the costs and energy penalty associated with conventional, solvent-based CO₂ capture" said David Myers, vice president of RTI's Engineering and Technology Unit. "We are excited that both the U.S. Department of Energy and Masdar recognize the potential of this new technology."

RTI will leverage expertise in solid sorbent CO₂ capture development, process engineering, and process scale-up to advance this novel process.

Masdar will co-invest significantly in this technology and provide engineering expertise throughout the project with an interest in eventually applying this process at Masdar's own facilities upon full technology commercialization.

"Masdar Carbon is committed to the innovation and development of clean fossil fuel technologies aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions both locally and globally," said Bader Al Lamki, associate director of Masdar Carbon. "We are excited to work with RTI International and the U.S. Department of Energy on this innovative project that has the potential to improve both the economics and technology of CCS practices."

Pennsylvania State University brings their novel CO₂ molecular basket sorbent (MBS) material to the project after several years of development and improvement at the Penn State Energy Institute. PSU will help to formulate a commercially viable form and reduce production costs of this material.

Süd-Chemie will produce large quantities of the sorbent for testing, and Foster Wheeler will provide technology assessment and engineering expertise to the project.

The project is being awarded as part of the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory – Innovations for Existing Plants Program.