Harnessing electrochemical pH gradient for direct air capture with hydrogen and oxygen by-products in a calcium-based loop

Abstract

Direct air capture is considered as one of the most important strategies for controlling the CO₂ concentration in the earth's atmosphere and thereby mitigating climate change. The current direct air capture technologies still suffer from various issues, such as high energy cost or material instability, which may limit their large-scale applications. Here, we report two new processes that harness electrochemical pH gradient for direct air capture with a calcium-based loop. The first process involves CaCO₃ dissolution and Ca(OH)₂ generation in a water electrolysis cell followed by CO₂ absorption in a Ca(OH)₂–NaOH slurry, regenerating CaCO₃ and closing the loop. NaOH is identified to be an effective catalyst for CO₂ fixation in the form of CaCO₃. The second process enables simultaneous CO₂ capture and carbonate regeneration. Both processes eliminate high-temperature CaCO₃ calcination, and thereby reduce the energy use and emissions. The valuable H₂ and O₂ by-products have various applications. The calcium-based loop that harnesses electrochemical pH gradient represents a promising approach for direct air capture in an economical and environmentally friendly way.