The primary CO2 scrubbing agents in post-combustion systems are aqueous alkanolamines. The need for water as a co-solvent greatly increases the energy requirements for CO2 scrubbing due to the high specific heat of water. Carbon black is a promising candidate as a support material for CO2 capture and release because it absorbs light over a broad spectrum. This light is converted to thermal energy generates heat around the nanoparticles. By incorporating carbon black nanoparticles into the CO2 capture fluid, photothermal energy conversion can drive CO2 release from aqueous alkanolamines without the need for an external heat source. As a result of the photothermal energy conversion enabled by the carbon black nanoparticles, the total energy cost needed to strip CO2 from aqueous alkanolamine systems is reduced. Surface modification of carbon black directly affects the scrubbing process by altering the kinetics of CO2 desorption. We have shown that covalently functionalizing the surface of carbon black with cationic and anionic groups increases solubility in polar solvents and decreases the overall efficiency of CO2 scrubbing.

Utilizing photothermal energy for CO<sub>2</sub> stripping of MEA with surface modified carbon black nanoparticles

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Utilizing photothermal energy for CO2 stripping of MEA with surface modified carbon black nanoparticles

Utilizing photothermal energy for CO₂ stripping of MEA with surface modified carbon black nanoparticles