Project coordinator @ CEST: Dr. Camen Vladu

Project abstract:

One of the huge threats our planet is facing is the climate change. Catastrophic effects predicted to result from climate change such as global warming, melting of glaciers, increase of the sea level, species disappearance, pollution, economic disruption, and starvation needs to be mitigated. To overcome these problems, the effects of greenhouse gasses, especially CO₂ have to be mitigated. One promising technology is CO₂ capture, transportation, and storage (CCTS). CO₂ capture technologies are available on the market, but they have generally high costs, accounting for more than 70% of the total costs of a full CCTS system. Novel materials and technologies need to be developed for CO₂ capture and storage to make this technology more cost efficient.

Thanks to their properties (e.g. lower capital and processing costs, smaller unit size, simple operation, better energy efficiency, easy up-scalable, lower environmental impact, process flexibility, continuous operation) membranes proved to be a viable technical approach for CO₂ capture. The innovative solution proposed by nanoMEM project is the use of electrospinning technique to produce nanofiber-based membrane. The main property of the electrospun nanofiber that will be exploited is their very high surface area. Further post-processing (e.g. calcination) of the nanofibers will highly increase the porosity, thermal stability and chemical characteristics. Among the main benefits of nanofiber-based membranes their high absorption capacity, high selectivity, stable performance during absorption/desorption cycling and the cost reduction for CO₂ capture has to be highlighted.

The innovative approach proposed by the nanoMEM project will offer a trustworthy, cost effective and alternative solution for reducing the negative effects of CO₂ emission, especially reducing risks for human health and for the environment. The results of the nanoMEM are precisely fitting the Lower Austria strategy and objectives for climate and energy plan for 2020 to 2030.