In recent years, Carbon Capture and Storage (Sequestration) (CCS) has been proposed as a potential method to allow the continued use of fossil-fuelled power stations whilst preventing emissions of CO2 from reaching the atmosphere. Gas, coal (and biomass)-fired power stations can respond to changes in demand more readily than many other sources of electricity production, hence the importance of retaining them as an option in the energy mix. Here, we review the leading CO2 capture technologies, available in the short and long term, and their technological maturity, before discussing CO2 transport and storage. Current pilot plants and demonstrations are highlighted, as is the importance of optimising the CCS system as a whole. Other topics briefly discussed include the viability of both the capture of CO2 from the air and CO2 reutilisation as climate change mitigation strategies. Finally, we discuss the economic and legal aspects of CCS.

Carbon capture and storage update

Energy-efficient polymeric gas separation membranes for a sustainable future: A review

Poly(ionic liquid)s: An update

Polymeric ionic liquids: Broadening the properties and applications of polyelectrolytes

Advanced applications of ionic liquids in polymer science

Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) with polymerizable groups can be readily converted into solid, dense poly(RTILs) for use as gas separation membranes. A series of RTIL monomers with varying length n-alkyl substituents were synthesized and converted into polymer films. These membranes were tested for their performance in separations involving CO2, N2, and CH4. CO2 permeability was observed to increase in a nonlinear fashion as the n-alkyl substituent was lengthened. CO2/N2 separation performance was relatively unaffected as CO2 permeability increased. Plotting the performance of these membranes on a “Robeson plot” for CO2/N2 shows that first-generation poly(RTILs) “hug” the “upper bound” of the chart, indicating that they perform as well or better than many other polymers for this separation. The CO2/CH4 separation is less impressive when compared to other polymer membranes on a “Robeson plot”, but poly(RTILs) perform as well or better than molten RTILs do in bulk fluid gas absorptions for that gas p...

and Richard D. Noble

Papers

Synthesis and Performance of Polymerizable Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids as Gas Separation Membranes