The gas-liquid membrane contactor (GLMC) is a promising alternative gas absorption/desorption configuration for effective carbon dioxide (CO2 ) capture. The physicochemical properties of membranes may synergistically affect GLMC performances, especially during the long-term operations. In this work, commercial polypropylene (PP) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber (HF) membranes wer...

The last years showed an increased request for miniaturised, CMOS-compatible gas detectors. In contrast to sensors utilizing metal-oxide chemical interfaces, optical strategies are potentially faster and more robust. Recently we demonstrated CO2 detection by evanescent-wave absorption in the mid-infrared using a combination of an external laser source and silicon waveguides based on CMOS techno...

The actual metabolic capacity of the liver is crucial for disease identification, liver therapy, and liver tumor resection. By combining induced drug metabolism and high sensitivity IR spectroscopy of exhaled air, we provide a method for quantitative liver assessment at bedside within 20 to 60 min. Fast administration of 13C-labelled methacetin induces a fast response of liver metabolism and is...

Co2+ & Er3+ co-doped ZnO nanocrystals were synthesized by the hydrothermal method at 180°C and pH= 12 for 48 h. Powder XRD patterns indicate that the Zn1-2xErxCoxO crystals (0.00<x≤0.035) are isostructural with ZnO. The cell parameters increase for Er3+ and Co2+ upon increasing the dopant content (x). SEM images show that doping of Er3+ and Co2+ into the sites of Zn2+ does not change the morpho...

Climate change occurs as a result of absorption of infrared radiation which heats the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas emissions can increase the earth’s average temperatures since the majority of greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2). Fossil fuels have historically played a major role as the world’s primary source of energy and will continue to assume that role for at least the next few decades....

Membrane contactor using amine based absorbents is an efficient technology for CO2 separation from gaseous mixtures. A novel porous polysulfone (PSF) flat membrane was prepared via non-solvent phase inversion method. The PSF membrane was modified by adding polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) to the dope solution. The fabricated membrane was used in the serpentine flow field contactor module for CO2 abs...

Transition-metal-based molecular complexes are a class of catalyst materials for electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO that can be rationally designed to deliver high catalytic performance. One common mechanistic feature of these electrocatalysts developed thus far is an electrogenerated reduced metal center associated with catalytic CO2 reduction. Here we report a heterogenized zinc-porphyrin co...

Seven different types of gasification-based coal conversion processes for producing mainly electricity and in some cases hydrogen (H2), with and without carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, were compared on a consistent basis through simulation studies. The flowsheet for each process was developed in a chemical process simulation tool "Aspen Plus". The pressure swing adsorption (PSA), physical absorpt...