Uncovering Important Reactions for Electrochemical Carbon Capture

A cubic electrochemical reactor filled with a blue copper solution is wired up for carbon capture testing.

Test whether often ignored reactions are relevant for a new carbon capture technology.

Project description

It is well established that the release of CO2 into the atmosphere during the past century has negatively impacted the global climate. Carbon capture is necessary to minimize CO2 releases as we transition to a society less reliant on fossil fuels and, eventually, to remove historic CO2 releases directly from the air or ocean.

Most of the data and studies of carbon capture reactions are relevant to the standard heat-driven carbon capture process. Electrochemical carbon capture has been shown to be more energy efficient and only requires ambient conditions, making it safer and cheaper. However, it is unclear how well the literature data on specific CO2 capture reactions for the heat-driven process apply to this new technology due to the different operating conditions. This project focuses on specific reactions ignored by the heat-driven process that are expected to be relevant for the wider pH range, higher salinity, and higher metal concentrations used in electrochemical carbon capture. Reactions of interest include the acid/base chemistry of carbamic acid intermediates and the phase separation of sorbents and sorbent-metal complexes. Each student will collect and analyze data from both the literature and experiments to determine how important one specific type of reaction is during an electrochemical carbon capture process cycle. These data will be used to support work in designing a safer and more efficient electrochemical carbon capture process. 

Project outcome

These hands-on, applied activities will prepare students for jobs, internships, or graduate programs by developing critical thinking and problem solving skills through the following specific outcomes:

  1. Students will gain skills and knowledge in aquatic and electrochemistry lab techniques under controlled conditions. They will specifically learn how to set up, conduct, interpret, and visualize data for techniques like cyclic voltammetry and spectrophotometry under specified gas compositions.
  2. Students will develop their ability to read and understand the scientific literature, with an emphasis on applying past experiments as a basis for designing and contextualizing their own studies.
  3. Students will develop science communication skills by generating and receiving feedback on regular short progress reports and presentations for individual and group meetings. If successful, students will have the opportunity to present their research at local symposia or conferences such as the annual Western New York American Chemical Society chapter's undergraduate symposium and may be involved in writing peer reviewed publications. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment About a semester; 3-5 months
Start time

Spring (January/February 2025)

Summer (May/June of 2025)

In-person, remote, or hybrid? In-Person Project (can only function with in-person engagement)
Level of collaboration Individual Student Project
Benefits Stipend
Who is eligible Sophomore & Junior students with at least 2 semesters of laboratory-based chemistry experience

Project mentor

Johnathan Boualavong

Assistant Professor

Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering

Phone: (716) 645-0977

Email: jboualav@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

Students should complete the UB EHS lab safety training before the project.  Link: https://www.buffalo.edu/administrative-services/training/training-catalog/Facilities/laboratory-safety.html

Keywords

climate change, carbon capture, electrochemistry, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Department