The SMART-DAC process consists of two steps: CO2 absorption from air using membrane gas absorption (MGA) with liquid absorbent and concentration of the captured CO2 plus regeneration of the absorbent by membrane electrolysis (ME) / electrodialysis (ED).
Membrane Gas Absorption uses a membrane to keep gas and liquid phases separated while allowing mass transfer between the phases. In the membrane electrolysis or electrodialysis step the absorbent is fully recycled and at the same time the very pure CO2 is concentrated.
A smart buffer system between absorption and regeneration steps makes the process flexible and enables the use of low-cost electricity at moments of surplus or by direct use of electricity from solar cells or windmills.
More innovative features
Use of “natural” wind circulation instead of fans or blowers for contacting the air with the absorbent (no energy costs).
A fully continuous 24/7 process (no alternating absorption-desorption steps) to enable full use the available absorption capacity
The selected absorbent is chemically stable, non-volatile, not noxious and regenerable without losses.
No use of heat, only electricity; operation independent from heat provider.
Scale-up by numbers, not by size, like all membrane technologies meaning module standardization towards mass production