Researchers at Tianjin University say a new all-organic mixed-matrix membrane can separate CO2 from flue gas with far less energy than chemical absorption. The work, published in Nature Energy, combines a polymer with a covalent organic framework filler to keep the membrane easy to process while creating fast CO2 pathways. In tests with simulated flue gas, CO2 permeability improved by an order of magnitude and held steady with moisture, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides present. The team estimates capture cost at roughly $38 per ton of CO2, which lands within the range that earlier studies projected for coal and cement plants using advanced membranes. That matters for sectors like thermal power and steel, where flue gas volumes are huge and CO2 concentrations are low. The next question is whether the material can move from lab modules to a pilot unit and keep those numbers in real operating conditions.
