Advancements in direct air capture and CO2 conversion

Developments in carbon capture and conversion technologies have been reported through both industrial demonstrations and academic research.

In Japan, Aircapture Inc. and NGK Corporation initiated a joint direct air capture (DAC) demonstration project at the AIZAWA Concrete Corporation Fukushima RDM Center. This collaboration utilizes Aircapture’s modular systems and NGK’s ceramic substrate technology to evaluate system performance, reliability, and durability in a commercial environment. The partners are also investigating CO2 utilization pathways, such as concrete mineralization.

Concurrently, researchers are advancing CO2 management through new catalytic and membrane methods. At Tohoku University, a team developed a copper phthalocyanine catalyst capable of converting CO2 directly into methane with a 79.5% Faradaic efficiency. In a separate effort, a collaboration between the University of Zaragoza, the Institute of Nanotechnology and Materials of Aragon, and the University of Manchester produced ultra-thin membranes. These membranes combine polymers with metal-organic frameworks to facilitate the separation of CO2 from ambient air.