Houston Daily

Researchers at the University of Houston have announced two advances in carbon capture technology that could lower costs and improve efficiency for reducing emissions from power plants. The research, led by Professor Mim Rahimi from the Cullen College of Engineering, focuses on new methods for capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂), a major contributor to climate change.

The first breakthrough, detailed in Nature Communications, introduces a membraneless electrochemical process for amine-based CO₂ capture. By removing the conventional ion-exchange membrane and using gas diffusion electrodes instead, the team reduced energy requirements and costs. According to Ph.D. student Ahmad Hassan, this approach achieved over 90% CO₂ removal—about 50% more than traditional electrochemically mediated amine regeneration (EMAR) methods—and brought capture costs down to approximately $70 per metric ton. Hassan stated, “By removing the membrane and the associated hardware, we’ve streamlined the EMAR workflow and dramatically cut energy use. This opens the door to retrofitting existing industrial exhaust systems with a compact, low-cost carbon capture module.”

A second development came from Ph.D. student Mohsen Afshari, whose work was published in ES&T Engineering. He demonstrated a vanadium redox flow system that can both capture carbon and store renewable energy by absorbing CO₂ during charging and releasing it during discharge. Afshari explained, “Integrating carbon capture directly into a redox flow battery lets us tackle two challenges in one device. Our front-cover feature highlights its potential to smooth out renewable generation while sequestering CO₂.”

Rahimi emphasized the motivation behind these efforts: “Climate change mitigation was basically the reason we pursued this research. We need solutions, and we wanted to be part of the solution. The biggest suspect out there is CO₂ emissions, so the low-hanging fruit would be to eliminate those emissions.” He added that these innovations reflect his group’s commitment “to fundamental electrochemical innovation and real-world applicability,” with aims to decarbonize difficult sectors and support a shift toward a low-carbon economy.

Both projects suggest possible future applications for industry seeking more affordable ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.