Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

As a membrane expert in both gas separation and water treatment, the potential of microporous membrane with superhydrophobic surface in membrane gas absorption and membrane distillation has been individually studied. The superhydrophobic membrane possesses non-wetting surface like lotus leaf that prevents wetting and fouling. Fast permeation of CO2 through the gas-filled pores was recorded. Minimum fouling in the long operation was also observed. The research team proposed to integrate CO2 gas absorption and brine treatment. Brine waste produced from reverse osmosis process contains magnesium and calcium chlorides that can be converted into valuable carbonates using the CO2 gas.

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Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Facing the global decline in oil prices, many oil exporting countries including Malaysia requires economic diversity. Biogas generation using the renewable sources and agricultural waste is mostly desirable as it generates new income and energy source that support the economic growth sustainably. The promotion of biogas is a giant forward to combat global warming because methane in biogas is a more harmful greenhouse gas than CO2, trapping about 30 times more heat. Carbon capture using membrane technology is not only helpful to upgrade biogas into biomethane with higher calorific and commercial values, it is also supportive to facilitate carbon storage in waste. In other words, the proposed project enhances the sustainability of renewable energy industry.

Furthermore, this project support gender diversity. The research teams consist of about 40 % male engineers and 60 % female engineers with diverse ethnic and religious background. The female engineers worked on carbon capture projects are Ms. Nor Aini Ahmad (Ph.D. candidate, 2014-Present) and Mr. Nor Naimah Rosyadah binti Ahmad (Ph.D. candidate, 2015-Present). The project leader is the standing committee of Women Engineers, the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (Penang Branch) that promotes gender diversity in engineering activities.

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Mission Statement:

The mission of this project is to promote carbon capture and utilization with commercial benefits. In this project, CO2 absorbed from biogas will be reacted with chlorides in brine to form carbonates. Besides upgrading biogas into biomethane with higher commercial value, CO2 will be stored in brine waste from desalination process. CO2 absorption into liquid absorbent can be promoted using microporous membrane with large surface area for gas-liquid interfacial interaction. However, it requires the development of superhydrophobic membrane with non-wetting and non-fouling surface that prevent liquid-filled pores and surface scaling by carbonates.