Sandia National Laboratory researchers developing methane capture and separation chemistry
In New Mexico, food scraps, manure and sewage are natural byproducts of the U.S. agricultural industry. They are also rich in biogas, a mixture that contains methane and other valuable chemicals. Researchers from Sandia National Laboratory are developing chemistry that could help capture methane from biogas and separate it from other gases so it can be put to good use.
A porous liquid is a liquid solvent combined with a porous solid material — a combination that essentially creates a liquid full of tiny cavities. Those cavities create empty space inside the liquid, allowing it to absorb and store gas molecules.
The porous solids can range from traditional materials such as zeolites or newer, highly tunable structures such as metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks and porous organic cages. By mixing different solids and solvents, researchers can tailor how the liquid behaves.
The team has created dozens of different porous liquids so far, and many more combinations with varying properties are possible.
Category: Research
