Findings from the research will be presented by University of Melbourne PhD student Juliana Franco as part of the 2007 Cooperative Research Centres Association conference’s series of Early Career Scientists presentations.

In her study, Franco aimed to reduce the cost of capturing CO2 by combining absorption processes using a common amine solvent and polypropylene membranes, a porous plastic.

“Using an innovative process known as Membrane Gas Absorption (MGA), I surface treat the membranes to increase their water-repellent qualities,” she said.

“MGA units can separate CO2 using a volume that is three to four times smaller than processing towers – the established technology currently preferred for CO2 separation from flue gas – which are cheaper to run.

“If successful, this membrane-gas absorption process will allow the transfer of CO2 through a polypropylene membrane where it can be absorbed into a solvent, making CO2 capture more efficient and economical.”

Franco’s work follows on from previous research that resulted in the construction of a pilot-scale membrane gas absorption unit using Teflon membranes at Kårstø on the Norwegian coast.

“On a commercial-scale, this membrane material is expensive to use in a coal-fired power station or in the separation CO2 from natural gas,” she said.

“The cheaper membrane materials being developed at the University of Melbourne have a similar performance to those that are currently commercially available, such as Teflon.

“But our membranes are significantly cheaper than Teflon and testing has shown a performance comparable to Teflon membranes.”

CO2CRC collaborates with leading international and national carbon capture and storage experts to conduct research into CO2 geosequestration.

CO2CRC collaborates with leading international and national carbon capture and storage experts to conduct research into carbon dioxide geosequestration.

Research organisations supporting and participating in the CO2CRC include CSIRO, Geoscience Australia and the Universities of Adelaide, Curtin, Melbourne, Monash and NSW; the Alberta Research Council in Canada and the US Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

CO2CRC industry and state core partners are ACARP, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, NSW Department of Primary Industries, NZ Resource Consortium, Rio Tinto, Schlumberger, Shell, Foundation for Research Science and Technology (NZ), Solid Energy, Stanwell, the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, Woodside and Xstrata. CO2CRC is supported through the Australian Government’s CRC Program.