Improved Apparatus for Dynamic Column Breakthrough Measurements Relevant to Direct Air Capture of CO₂

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Dynamic column breakthrough (DCB) is typically used for high adsorptive concentrations.
• Direct air capture of carbon dioxide requires measurements at low partial pressures and ambient conditions.
• Existing methods are not optimized for atmospheric carbon dioxide capture research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a new apparatus for DCB measurements under tropospheric conditions.
• To characterize the adsorption of low concentrations of carbon dioxide on 13X zeolite.
• To assess the feasibility of DCB for direct air capture sorbent evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel DCB apparatus for low CO2 partial pressures.
• Experimental measurements on 13X zeolite samples (hundreds of milligrams).
• Adsorption capacity determination at temperatures (233.1–323.1 K) and pressures (351–1078 hPa).

Main Results:

• Detailed description and validation of the new DCB apparatus.
• Reported adsorption capacities for CO2 on 13X zeolite under relevant conditions.
• Comparison of DCB results with static manometric adsorption measurements.
• Experiments conducted at a typical atmospheric CO2 concentration (400 µL·L⁻¹).

Conclusions:

• The developed apparatus is suitable for DCB measurements under atmospheric conditions.
• Provides valuable data for sorbent selection in direct air capture technologies.
• Highlights the importance of low-pressure characterization for CO2 capture sorbents.