Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

With the onset and increase of carbon dioxide (CO2)-driven climate change, capturing and permanently storing CO2 is crucial to reach global net-zero emissions targets. However, demonstration units for traditional carbon capture technologies, based on processes adapted from hydrocarbon distillation, have been underperforming. In addition, these units are only suitable for installation on very large-scale sources of CO2 emission, such as coal or gas power plants. Located in Toronto, Ionada Inc. is an emerging leader in the field of advanced carbon capture. Ionada has identified an alternative technology, using membrane separation, that has the potential to improve carbon capture efficiencies. Additionally, it can be scaled to small and medium-sized CO2 emission sources, such as industrial boilers and manufacturing centres, which have largely gone unaddressed. In this project, Ionada is partnering with Professor Kyle Valdock and the School of Environmental and Civil Engineering Technology to research and optimize the core of this innovative carbon capture technology: the solvent-membrane system. This project builds on an earlier, successful NSERC-funded project to develop the initial testing instruments, framework, and automation for the first prototype of this carbon capture system. Improving the membrane system in this prototype will enable Ionada to implement more efficient and cost-effective designs in the future. This will open up new business opportunities to provide advanced carbon capture technology for small and medium-sized CO2 emission sources.