SmartDAC direct air capture
In development
SmartDAC is a direct air capture unit built in the UK by a consortium including B9, funded with £3M from the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) through the Greenhouse Gas Removal competition. The technology uses non-toxic, chemically stable absorbents and membrane gas absorption to extract CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ can be used in the food industry or made into alternative fuels such as e-methanol, e-kerosene and e-diesel.
Project overview
B9 was a partner in a group of companies that built a direct air carbon capture unit in the UK. The £3M project was funded by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) as part of the Greenhouse Gas Removal competition. Key features of the technology included a non-toxic but chemically stable absorbent for CO₂ capture, electricity for the regeneration of the absorbent, and fewer moving parts.
Technology and approach
SmartDAC is a new type of machine for extracting and capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere, so that it can be used in the food industry or for synthesis of alternative fuels such as e-methanol, e-kerosene and e-diesel.
It captures CO₂ directly from air in two steps:
- Absorption: CO₂ is absorbed from air using membrane gas absorption (MGA), and the captured CO₂ is concentrated to a high purity
- Regeneration: the absorbent is regenerated by membrane electrolysis (ME) or electrodialysis (ED)
To save energy, natural wind moves air through the membrane assemblies instead of fans. Electricity, ideally from wind and solar PV, drives the regeneration of the saturated absorbent.
The MGA uses a membrane system to separate the absorption liquid from the air stream. The liquid circulates through the membrane assembly while air passes across it. CO₂ in the air diffuses through the membrane and is absorbed into the circulating liquid, forming a water-based carbonate/bicarbonate solution. In this way, CO₂ moves from the gas phase into the liquid phase.
During regeneration, the (bi)carbonate solution from the MGA stage is converted back to the original absorbent, so that it can be reused. At the same time, the captured CO₂ is released in a concentrated form for further processing. The CO₂ is then compressed or liquefied and stored.
Key features
- Membrane gas absorption (MGA): CO₂ capture using membrane separation
- Non-toxic absorbents: chemically stable, non-toxic absorbent materials
- Natural wind circulation: less energy use, with passive air flow instead of fans
- Absorbent reuse: the absorbent is regenerated and reused
- Fewer moving parts: a simpler system, to reduce capital and operating costs
Project status
The DESNZ-funded project finished in March 2025. SmartDAC is still in development.
Project details
- Technology
- Direct air capture (DAC) using membrane gas absorption (MGA)
- Uses
- Carbon removal; CO₂ for the food industry and synthetic fuels
- Funding
- £3M from DESNZ, through the Greenhouse Gas Removal competition
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