The thermodynamics of direct air capture of carbon dioxide

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 50; pp. 38 - 46
• Main Author: Lackner, Klaus S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air pollution caused by fuel industries; Applied sciences; Carbon dioxide; Carbon management; Direct capture from air; Energy; Energy requirements; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Evaporation; Exact sciences and technology; Flue gas scrubbing; Free energy; Pollution reduction; Regeneration; Stack gas and industrial effluent processing; Swing; Thermodynamics; Thermodynamics; Carbon management; Direct capture from air; Carbon dioxide

An analysis of thermodynamic constraints shows that the low concentration of carbon dioxide in ambient air does not pose stringent limits on air capture economics. The thermodynamic energy requirement is small even using an irreversible sorbent-based process. A comparison to flue gas scrubbing sugge...