MEM-BRAIN gas separation membranes for zero-emission fossil power plants

The aim of the MEM-BRAIN project is the development and integration of gas separation membranes for zero-emission fossil power plants. This will be achieved by selective membranes with high permeability for CO2, O2 or H2, so that high-purity CO2 is obtained in a readily condensable form. The project is being implemented by the “MEM-BRAIN” Helmholtz Alliance consisting of research centres, universities and industrial partners.\ud \ud The MEM-BRAIN project focuses on the development, process engineering, system integration and energy systems analysis of different gas separation membranes for the different CO2 capture process routes in fossil power plants

Contrasting composition of free and mineral-bound organic matter in top- and subsoil horizons of Andosols

11 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables, 59 references.Andosols are characterised by high organic matter (OM) content throughout the soil profile, which is mainly due to the stabilisation of soil organic matter (SOM) by mineral interactions. The aim of the study was to examine whether there were differences in the chemical composition of mineralassociated SOM and free OM in the top A horizon and in the subsoil (horizons below the A11 horizon). Our experimental approach included the replicated sampling of a fulvic and an umbic Andosol under pine and laurel forest located on the island of Tenerife with a Mediterranean sub-humid climate. We determined the extent of the organo-mineral interactions by comparing the sizes of the light (free) and heavy (dense) soil fractions obtained by physical separation through flotation in a liquid with a density of 1.9 gcm –3 . We determined the elemental and isotopic composition of both fractions and analysed their chemical composition by analytical pyrolysis. The elemental and isotopic composition showed similar values with depth despite the different vegetation and climatic conditions prevailing at the two sites. Carbon (C) stabilised by mineral interactions increased with depth and represented 80–90% of the total C in the lowest horizons. The heavy fractions mainly released Ncontaining compounds upon analytical pyrolysis, whereas lignin-derived and alkyl compounds were the principal pyrolysis products released from the light fractions of the top- and subsoil horizons. Principal component analysis showed that the chemical composition of OM stabilised by mineral interaction differs in the different horizons of the soil profile. In the A horizons, the chemical composition of this OM was similar to those of the light fractions, i.e. litter input. There was a gradual change in the bulk molecular composition from a higher contribution of plant-derived molecules in the light and heavy fractions of the A horizon to more microbialderived molecules as well as black C-derived molecules at depth. We conclude that transport processes in addition to decomposition and possibly in situ ageing affect the chemical composition of mineral-associated OM in subsoils.Financial support was provided by EGIDE under the framework of the French–Spanish exchange programme Picasso.Peer reviewe

Enhanced CO2 Resistance for Robust Oxygen Separation Through Tantalum-doped Perovskite Membranes

© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. Oxygen selective membranes with enhanced oxygen permeability and CO2 resistance are highly required in sustainable clean energy generation technologies. Here, we present novel, cobalt-free, SrFe1-xTaxO3-d (x=0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2) perovskite membranes. Ta-doping induced lattice structure progression from orthorhombic (x=0) to cubic (x=0.05). SrFe0.95Ta0.05O3-d (SFT0.05) showed the highest oxygen flux rates reaching 0.85mLmin-1cm-2 at 950°C on a 1.0mm-thick membrane. Surface decoration can increase the permeation rate further. Ta inclusion within the perovskite lattice of SrFeO3-d (SF) enhanced the CO2 resistance of the membranes significantly as evidenced by the absence of the carbonate functional groups on the FTIR spectrum when exposed to CO2 atmosphere at 850°C. The CO2 resistance of Ta-doped SF compounds correlates with the lower basicity and the higher binding energy for the lattice oxygen. SFT0.05 demonstrated high stability during long-term permeation tests under 10% CO2 atmosphere

MEM-BRAIN gas separation membranes for energy-efficient processes

[EN] The objective of the Helmholtz Portfolio "MEM-BRAIN" is the development and integration of cermaic and polymeric gas separation membranes for advanced fossil power plants and other applications like biogas processing or processes in the chemical industry. This will be achieved using membranes with a high permeability and selectivity for either CO2 O2 or H2, for the three CO" capture process routes in power plants, thus enabling CO2 to be captures with high-purity in a reaadly condensable form.Czyperek, M.; Baumann, S.; Bouwmeester, H.; Meulenberg, WA.; Modigell, M.; Serra Alfaro, JM.; Shishatskiy, S.... (2012). MEM-BRAIN gas separation membranes for energy-efficient processes. Procedia Engineering. 44:1554-1556. doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2012.08.863S155415564