Bench-scale demonstration of CO2 capture with an electrochemically driven proton concentration process

A thorough experimental investigation of a bench-scale apparatus of the proton concentration process with two symmetrical MnO2 electrodes is presented, with the aim of continuous desorption of CO2 from a K2CO3 solution. The electrodes were fabricated through cathodic deposition, and their chemical states, morphology, and microstructural architecture were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Successful formation of MnO2 film was confirmed by XPS analysis, and the SEM images showed a uniform distribution of the film across the carbon substrate surface and along the strand, with an average thickness of similar to 500 nm, thus making proton ion diffusion possible. Continuous and efficient desorption of CO2 from a K2CO3 solution was obtained when electrodeposited MnO2 electrodes were used in a flow-based proton concentration process. The amount of CO2 desorbed per area of the electrode was 12-fold higher than that of a similar system. The electrochemical nature of the proton concentration process offers substantial practical advantages for the future, especially if electricity can be sustainably produced from renewable sources.