CCS pilot plant completes 1600 hours of operation, using bio-catalytic technology

Akermin has developed a bio-catalytic solution for capturing CO₂ from coal-fired power plants. The Biocatalyst Delivery System (BDS) installed at the plant has consistently captured over 80% from flue gas exhaust, after operating for 1600 hours.

 The BDS was first tested for several weeks through May, at the National Carbon Capture Centre in Wilsonville, Alabama.

Barry Blackwell, president and CEO of Akermin, said, “After several weeks of continuous operations, this marks the longest and largest demonstration of an enzyme-catalysed process for CO₂ capture.”

Since Akermin initiated operation of the pilot plant, it has operated with no biocatalyst replenishment, while demonstrating significant rate enhancement. Gas sampling has confirmed that Akermin’s technology can produce CO₂ of a very high purity and suggests that no additional equipment will be required to control emissions to the atmosphere.

Alex Zaks, vice president of research and CTO at Akermin, said, “The 1600 hours of operation without any degradation in performance demonstrates the ability of the biocatalyst to operate for extended periods without the need for replenishment. This brings Akermin one step closer to commercial production.”

Akermin is currently developing and testing a next generation approach that uses an environmentally-friendly solvent and proprietary process scheme with on-line biocatalyst replenishment.  This approach has the potential to reduce the avoided cost of capture by as much as 40% versus the solutions that have recently been evaluated for commercial-scale demonstration on coal-fired power plants throughout North America and Europe. This reduction could make the capture of anthropogenic CO2 more economically attractive for enhanced oil recovery.

Edited from various sources by Samuel Dodson

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/07082013/new_ccs_technology_moves_closer_to_commercial_production_302/