Multiscale process systems engineering for electrochemically mediated CO2 capture: A mini-review

Abstract

Electrochemically mediated CO₂ capture (EMCC) is a novel carbon capture technology. Despite its great potential, EMCC encounters technical and economic challenges. The Process Systems Engineering (PSE) methods and tools have potential to bridge the gap and overcome some obstacles in EMCC. This mini review offers an overview of innovations, opportunities, and challenges in EMCC from a multiscale PSE perspective. First, a brief introduction of different types of EMCC implementations is provided. Next, a thermodynamic model is proposed to analyze the impact of functional molecules (electrolyte), microstructure of electrode surface and cell structures on the system’s performance. Then, a multi-scale analysis is performed to examine the system across molecular-, meso-, unit-, and process-scales, with the potential applications of PSE methods explored. This study also shows that the EMCC technology can be further promoted by learning the experience from applying PSE methods to the flow battery and electrochemical reduction processes.