Electrification of adsorption processes: principles, materials and processes

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by chemical industry requires the development of more efficient, intensified processes. Amongst the unit processes, thermal separation processes (e.g. distillation) are responsible for a major fraction of the energy consumption and thus CO2 emissions. Replacement of classical, thermal separation technologies by electrified methods and/or by adsorption technology allows for a significant decrease in energy intensity.
In this paper, we discuss different approaches to electrify Thermal Swing Adsorption. Novel methods, based on adsorbent regeneration via microwave heating, induction heating and Joule heating are reviewed. The constraints with respect to the adsorbent materials for the different heating methods are discussed. Experimental setups and tools for the study of these methods will be presented. Results obtained over the past years by such methods will be reviewed. Potential advantages, disadvantages and bottlenecks will be highlighted.


Acknowledgments
Joeri F.M. Denayer and Brieuc Verougstraete are grateful to FWO Vlaanderen for financial support. Yamid Ali Gomez Rueda would like to acknowledge Innoviris (2019-RPF–1) for financial support. Mohsen Gholami would like to thank VLAIO for financial support (HBC.2019.0109).