Washington, DC - A novel carbon capture technology developed by researchers at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and ADA Environmental Solutions has been recognized by R&D Magazine as among the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into commercial marketplace within the past year.
This year’s award recognizes the Basic Immobilized Amine Sorbent (BIAS) process, encompassing a portfolio of patented and patent-pending technologies for the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gas streams.
CO2 is one of the major greenhouse gases impacting climate change, and nearly one-third of man-made CO2 emissions result from the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation. NETL, the Office of Fossil Energy’s research laboratory, is investigating carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies (including BIAS) as a means for helping control CO2 emissions from power plants.
The process encompasses a portfolio of techniques for the production of regenerable immobilized amine-based sorbents and provides a methodology for the capture of CO2 from flue gas streams. Low-cost, regenerable amine-based sorbents offer many advantages over existing technologies including increased CO2 capture capacity, reduced corrosion, lower energy requirements and costs, and minimized water usage. Additionally, amine-based sorbents are scalable for use in industrial applications, including coal combustion and gasification-based power generating systems.
Application of this technology is expected to reduce cost and energy use associated with more conventional scrubbing processes. The process can be used as a retrofit to older power plants that currently burn coal or applied to new, more efficient pulverized coal-fired power plants.
Additionally, the BIAS process can capture CO2 from utilities that combust oil or natural gas. Although the process is envisioned for use primarily as a postcombustion CO2 capture method for power generation point sources, BIAS sorbents are also being considered for other applications, such as natural gas cleanup, life support systems/confined spaces, and air capture systems.
R&D 100 Awards are regarded by many within industry, government laboratories, and academia as instrumental in identifying state-of-the art technologies and helping to move innovative science into the public marketplace. The annual awards, known as the "Oscars of Invention," are selected by an independent panel of judges and the editors of R&D Magazine.
"Congratulations to this year's R&D 100 award winners," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "The research and development at the Department of Energy's laboratories continues to help the nation meet our energy challenges, strengthen our national security and improve our economic competitiveness."
Since introduction in 1963, the R&D 100 Awards have identified game-changing technologies across a diverse range of scientific disciplines including telecommunications, biotechnology, software, high-energy physics, diagnostics, and manufacturing. Winning technologies that have moved into the public sector included the digital wristwatch, antilock brakes, the automated teller machine, the halogen lamp, the fax machine, the NicoDerm® anti-smoking patch, and HDTV.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 Awards. Winners will be recognized at the R&D 100 Awards Banquet on November 1, 2012, at the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World.
<p>FECommunications@hq.doe.gov</p><p> </p>