Nader Mahinpey, associate professor and associate head (research) of chemical and petroleum engineering in the Schulich School of Engineering, is receiving a NSERC Strategic Project Grant of $583,082 over three years, toward developing a novel integrated approach to energy production and gasification, the process which converts organic or fossil-based carbon material into carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
His approach combines gasification technology with newly created solid absorbent materials to provide cost-effective solutions for capturing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2). He will use pilot-plant studies to take laboratory-scale knowledge to what’s required for commercialization.
“This proposed solution will address major challenges that hinder transformative innovation in the area of CO2 capture, with benefits to Canada’s economy, energy and environment,” said Mahinpey, who leads the Energy and Environment Research Group at the University of Calgary.
A common method of capturing CO2 in industrial processes involves wet scrubbing of flue gases with chemicals (amine solvents). However, this causes a serious loss in process thermodynamic efficiency, so is unlikely to be cost-effective on a large scale.
Mahinpey’s approach uses a “dry process” to capture CO2. The technology is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead to sustainable production of hydrogen, and involve the training of highly qualified personnel for Canada’s natural resources and energy sectors.