Electrochemical separation of CO2 from a simulated flue gas with high-temperature ceramic-carbonate membrane: New observations

Development of highly efficient and cost-effective carbon capture and storage technology is vitally important to the reduction of carbon emissions and mitigation of global climate change. In this study, a ceramic-carbonate membrane conducting both oxide-ions and carbonate-ions is explored to directly separate CO2 from a simulated flue gas in the temperature range of 550-650 degrees C. The CO2 permeation flux density is found to increase with temperature as well as concentrations of CO2 and O-2, and stable over a testing period of 100 h. It is also observed for the first time that the membrane is permeable to O-2. A parallel mechanism responsible for the facilitated CO2 and O-2 transport is proposed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.