Cost Reduction for Biogas Upgrading via a Low-Pressure Solid-State Amine Scrubber

Demonstrating a solid-state amine scrubber which removes CO2 from biogas at reduced costs

Gas System Decarbonization

Mosaic Materials, Inc.

Recipient

Berkeley, CA

Recipient Location

7th

Senate District

14th

Assembly District

beenhere

$1,000,000

Amount Spent

closed

Completed

Project Status

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Project Result

Mosaic Materials success in formulating a novel sorbent material, scaling up production so material could be manufactured at a kg-scale and performing gas separation testing over repeated cycling for extended time. The demonstration proved the sorbent material's ability to maintain high selectivity for CO2 over methane over 100's of absorption-desorption cycles. Results of Mosaic Materials' breakthrough CO2 adsorption pellets are nearing commercial availability for biogas applications. The technology has high potential for application outside biogas cleanup, namely carbon capture for carbon utilization and/or sequestration. Mosaic Materials is working with ExxonMobil to explore CO2 removal applications. Bill Gates noted the potential of this carbon capture technology to help mitigate climate change in a Netflix series & recognized the company on LinkedIn.

The Issue

In California, more than 10% of biogas is flared due to insufficient on-site demand and only 15% (approximately) of overall biogas capacity is utilized. The high carbon dioxide (CO2) content in biogas makes upgrading to pipeline quality biomethane for transport extremely energy intensive. While there are several commercial CO2 removal technologies, they are cost-prohibitive for most facilities and therefore not widely adopted.

Project Innovation

This project is developed a solid-state amine scrubbing technology for biogas upgrading that provides a 40 percent reduction in capital and operating costs compared to current state-of-the-art aqueous amine scrubbers. The solid-state scrubber for cleaning biogas increased efficiency and reduced the cost of removing contaminants from wastewater treatment plant biogas and upgrading to pipeline quality renewable natural gas. The developed sorbent material underwent durability testing at a wastewater treatment plant, and extended gas separation testing in a laboratory environment.

Project Benefits

The solid-state sorbent material developed is able to absorb significantly more carbon dioxide compared to the same volume of conventional liquid amines used for gas absorption. The material is also able to be recharged using significantly less energy. Lower cost biogas cleanup and upgrading technologies will expand the market for low carbon renewable fuels for both electricity generation and transportation applications.

Affordability

The reduced footprint and significant energy saving of the solid-amine scrubber will bring down both capital and operating costs in biogas upgrading for high quality biomethane (40% reduction vs. current amine scrubbers).

Economic Development

Biogas utilization converts waste from agriculture, livestock, and forestry into an energy source. This brings economic benefits to those rural operations and creates jobs for those who build and operate biogas facilities.

Environmental Sustainability

Increased adoption of renewable biomethane will reduce consumption of conventional natural gas, reducing carbon dioxide emissions while also promoting more biogas facilities to convert biogas to biomethane, and reduce flaring emissions.