CO2 capture process represents typically about 70% of the total cost of the CCS chain. Power plants that capture CO2 today use an old technology whereby flue gases are bubbled through organic amines in water, where the CO2 binds to amines. The liquid is then heated to 120-150ºC to release the gas, after which the liquids are reused. The entire process is expensive and inefficient: it consumes about 30 percent of the power generated. One of the most promising technologies for CO2 capture is based on the adsorption process using solid sorbents, with the most important advantage being the potential energy penalty reduction for regeneration of the material compared to liquid absorption . Nevertheless, the challenge in this application remains the same, namely to intensify the production of a CO2 stream in terms of adsorption/desorption rates and energy use while preserving the textural characteristics of the sorbents. The key objectives of the CARMOF project are (1) to build a full demonstrator of a new energy and cost-competitive dry separation process for post-combustion CO2 capture based on hybrid porous Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) & Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) (2) to design customized, high packed density & low pressure drop structures based on 3D printing technologies containing hybrid MOF/CNT to be used in CO2 capture system based on fluidized beds. The morphology of the printed absorber will be designed for the specific gas composition of each of the selected industries (ceramic, petrol products and steel) and (3) to optimize the CO2 desorption process by means of Joule effect combined with a vacuum temperature/preassure swing adsorption (VTSA or VPSA)/membrane technology that will surpass the efficiency of the conventional heating procedures

The CO2Fokus project aims to realise the full potential of a number of concrete strategies to exploit the direct use of CO2 for the production of dimethyl ether (DME) by CO2 hydrogenation. With CO2 utilisation at its heart, CO2Fokus will seek to exploit the inherent advantages of both chemical and electrochemical systems to establish robust, industrially optimal proofs-of-concept, reaching TRL 6 by the end of the project. The project will explore energy-efficient processes for two separate, potentially integrated systems, namely a 3D printed multichannel reactor and a solid oxide fuel cell (for co-electrolysis and electrolysis/reverse operation). Both systems will be evaluated for operational flexibility in an industrial environment with a CO2 emission point source. H2, as a renewable energy source, will be supplied via the solid oxide cell operating in electrolysis mode, The central focus will be on producing tangible improvements to the industrial processes in terms of energy efficiency and cost saving, by optimising the most promising conventional catalyst systems as well as innovative carbon-based ones. To this end, the catalyst will be printed and assembled as multi-channel arrays into modular, mobile prototype demonstration units. To enhance the effectiveness of the partners’ innovation efforts and reach ambitious commercial goals, CO2Fokus draws on expertise from partners across the industrial value chain, from industrial CO2 emitters, experts in catalyst manufacturing, petrochemical process engineering, chemistry and fuel cell specialists, offering a wealth of inter-disciplinary and market-oriented experience.