#achema2018 - Have you ever imagined that the omnipresent CO₂ naturally present in the atmosphere can be harnessed as a resource, contrary to warming up the environment? The “Carbon (CO₂) Capture Technology” at Climeworks proves to be a crucial contraption of the critical CO₂ hovering in the ambient air and has established itself as a pioneer.

The technology implements continuous cyclic adsorption and desorption. The atmospheric air is forced through an intricately fabricated filter material which rests on a suitable support. The active sites (sites favourable for CO₂ adsorption) preferentially adsorb CO₂ on their surface while air flows through the filter medium. Thus, the active sites on the filter material act as barriers impervious to the flux of CO₂ across the surface. The adsorbed CO₂ is then desorbed using low grade heat as an energy source. The desorbed CO₂ is then either liquefied or compressed to meet the customer compliances. The company’s customers include commercial agriculture, food and beverage, automation and the energy sector.

Commercially harnessing over 900 t of CO₂ from ambient air per year as a major resource, Climeworks has reduced the dependence on fossil energy and facilitated the avenues to unlock a negative emission future. With intensive research and development and key focus on experiential learning and diligence, they are set to attain the reduction in the cost of captured CO₂ from $600/t to $100/t.