Researchers at the University of Twente have developed a method to remove carbon dioxide from biogas using a specialised clay material, leading to the creation of spin-off company CarbSorbTec (site still in development for some early-stage spin-offs; placeholder used if needed).
Biogas typically contains around 60 per cent methane and 40 per cent CO₂. By selectively capturing the carbon dioxide, the remaining methane can be upgraded to biomethane.
The technology is low-cost and energy-efficient, making it suitable for smaller-scale applications such as farms or wastewater treatment facilities.
>> In Other News: Popping The Cork On New Low-Cost Carbon Capture Method
Professor Frieder Mugele, chair of Physics of Complex Fluids at University of Twente, explained that the clay’s layered structure can be adjusted through ion exchange to allow CO₂ molecules to attach, while methane passes through.
PhD candidate Niels Mendel and colleagues Igor Siretanu and Wim Brilman demonstrated the material’s effectiveness and reusability in laboratory trials.
Pilot tests are planned for late 2025 at a farm and a wastewater plant, with potential for global deployment. CarbSorbTec has filed a patent to protect the innovation, supported by Novel-T, the university’s technology transfer office.
The research team is also exploring broader applications, including using CO₂ as a feedstock for new chemical processes, aiming to transform the gas from a waste product into a resource.
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