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A Bench-Scale Demonstration of Direct Air Capture Using an Enhanced Electrochemical System

Author

Listed:
  • Jinwen Wang

    (Institute for Decarbonization and Energy Advancement, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40507, USA)

  • Xin Gao

    (Institute for Decarbonization and Energy Advancement, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40507, USA)

  • Adam Berger

    (Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA)

  • Ayokunle Omosebi

    (Institute for Decarbonization and Energy Advancement, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40507, USA)

  • Tingfei Chen

    (Institute for Decarbonization and Energy Advancement, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40507, USA)

  • Aron Patrick

    (PPL Corporation, Allentown, PA 18101, USA)

  • Kunlei Liu

    (Institute for Decarbonization and Energy Advancement, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40507, USA
    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA)

Abstract

The bench-scale demonstration of the UKy-IDEA process for direct air capture (DAC) technology combines solvent-aided CO 2 capture with electrochemical regeneration (ER) through a pH swing process, enabling efficient CO 2 capture and simultaneous solvent regeneration, producing high-purity hydrogen as a valuable co-product. The system shows stable performance with over 90% CO 2 capture efficiency and approximately 80% CO 2 recovery, handling ambient air at 280 L/min. During testing, the unit captured 1 kg of CO 2 over 100 h, with a concentrated CO 2 output purity of around 70%. Operating efficiently at low voltage (<3 V), the system supports flexible and remote operation without AC/DC converters when using intermittent renewable energy. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) highlight its minimized required footprint and cost-effectiveness. Marketable hydrogen offsets capture costs, and compatibility with renewable DC power enhances appeal. Hydrogen production displacing CO 2 produced via electrolysis achieves 0.94 kg CO 2 abated per kg CO 2 captured. The project would be economic, with USD 26 per ton of CO 2 from the federal 45Q tax credit for carbon utilization, and USD 5 to USD 12 per kg for H 2 .

Suggested Citation

  • Jinwen Wang & Xin Gao & Adam Berger & Ayokunle Omosebi & Tingfei Chen & Aron Patrick & Kunlei Liu, 2025. "A Bench-Scale Demonstration of Direct Air Capture Using an Enhanced Electrochemical System," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:7:y:2025:i:2:p:50-:d:1680117
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David S. Sholl & Ryan P. Lively, 2016. "Seven chemical separations to change the world," Nature, Nature, vol. 532(7600), pages 435-437, April.
    2. Sarah Deutz & André Bardow, 2021. "Life-cycle assessment of an industrial direct air capture process based on temperature–vacuum swing adsorption," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 6(2), pages 203-213, February.
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