Integration of strong oxide-support interaction and mesoporous confinement to engineer efficient and durable Zr/Al2O3 for catalytic solvent regeneration in CO2 capture

Integration of mesoporous confinement effect and strong metal oxide-support interaction, durable and efficient Zr/Al2O3 catalysts were proposed to boost the carbamate regeneration dynamics. The catalytic performance of powder and pelletized Zr/Al2O3 catalysts was verified and comprehensively evaluated according to lab-scale and bench-scale setup, while the promotion mechanism was explored based on characterization analysis and theoretical calculation. The maximum rate of carbamate decomposition (or CO2 desorption) using powder Zr/Al2O3 increased by 178% compared to the catalyst-free case, resulting in approximately 27% lower relative heat duty. Bench-scale testing (11hours) with continuous CO2 absorption and desorption demonstrated an optimal capture efficiency of 54.2% with pelletized Zr/Al2O3, increased by 12.5% higher than the blank case. A 4-weeks hydrothermal testing indicated that the catalysts had minimal impact on solvent degradation. This work demonstrates a feasible strategy of utilizing mesoporous soild acid material to realize the energy-efficient slovent regeneration during amined-based CO2 capture.