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Updated: Sep 1, 2025
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Author Spotlight: Standardizing the Development of Amine-Based Silica Composites as CO2 Adsorbents for Direct Air Capture
Published on: September 29, 2023
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Prospects for Simultaneously Capturing Carbon Dioxide and Harvesting Water from Air
Matthew N Dods1, Simon C Weston2, Jeffrey R Long1,3
1Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 18, 2022
Summary
Direct air capture (DAC) can remove atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and simultaneously harvest water. This dual function improves sustainability and water security while potentially reducing DACS costs.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Anthropogenic climate change necessitates large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies.
- Direct Air Capture with Sequestration (DACS) is a key engineered CDR technology.
- Improving DACS sustainability is crucial for its widespread adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the simultaneous removal of water alongside carbon dioxide in DACS operations.
- Explore the potential for harvesting high-purity water from the air using DACS materials.
- Assess the benefits of integrated water harvesting for DACS sustainability and economics.
Main Methods:
- Leveraging differences in CO2 and water adsorption chemistry within porous solids.
- Analyzing molecular- and process-level insights for co-adsorption and desorption.
- Evaluating material properties and process conditions for efficient water recovery.
Main Results:
- Co-adsorbed water can often be desorbed separately from chemisorbed CO2.
- Recovered water can achieve high purity suitable for various uses (industrial, agricultural, potable).
- Harvested water can enhance regional water security and offset DACS operational costs.
Conclusions:
- Simultaneous water harvesting presents a promising avenue for enhancing DACS sustainability.
- Integrated water recovery can improve the economic viability of direct air capture.
- Further research into materials and processes can realize this dual-function technology.
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