According to the researchers, the nanomaterial will separate the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from nitrogen, the other significant component of the waste gas released by coal-fired power plants.
The process would separate the carbon dioxide before being stored instead it will be released to the atmosphere.
University of Adelaide associate professor Christopher Sumby said a considerable amount of Australia’s and the world’s carbon dioxide emissions come from coal-fired power stations.
"Removing CO2 from the flue gas mixture is the focus of a lot of research. Most of Australia’s energy generation still comes from coal. Changing to cleaner energies is not that straightforward but, if we can clean up the emissions, we’ve got a great stop-gap technology," Sumby added.
The researchers have produced a new absorbent material, called a metal-organic framework, which has better selectivity for separating CO2 from nitrogen.
Sumby noted that the material has small pores that gas molecules can fit into a CO2 molecule fits, but a nitrogen molecule is slightly too big and that’s how it is separated.
"This material could be used as it is but there are probably smarter ways to implement the benefits," Sumby added.
"One of the next steps we’re pursuing is taking the material in powder form and dispersing it in a membrane. That may be more practical for industrial use."
