Microwave-augmented Carbon Capture

Abstract

Although carbon capture methods have been applied for the last few decades due to increasing awareness of global warming and climate change, there has been a surge in the use of microwave assistance for synthesis and regeneration in carbon capture in recent years. This chapter focuses solely on microwave assistance in carbon capture and the future challenges and prospects associated with this technology in this field. Microwave assistance was found to reduce the cost involved and production time required to synthesise CO2 adsorbents, which are expensive. Similarly, the energy consumed during the regeneration of CO2 absorbents and the efficiency of this process were enhanced when microwave heating was used. In general, microwave assistance improved CO2 selectivity and capacity as it positively affected the morphology of the sorption material. Novel techniques for using naturally occurring raw materials for microwave assisted production which could lead to carbon neutral processes have also been presented. Microwave irradiation can also be used in the synthesis of materials used for membrane separation and oxyfuel combustion carbon capture. Some challenges such as the greenness of energy sources for microwave heating still remain. Having said that, this chapter clearly highlights the advantages of microwave irradiation over conventional heating methods.