Sergei Kniajanski

Aminosilicone Solvents for CO2 Capture

This work describes the first report of the use of an aminosilicone solvent mix for the capture of CO(2). To maintain a liquid state, a hydroxyether co-solvent was employed which allowed enhanced physisorption of CO(2) in the solvent mixture. Regeneration of the capture solvent system was demonstrated over 6 cycles and absorption isotherms indicate a 25-50 % increase in dynamic CO(2) capacity over 30 % MEA. In addition, proof of concept for continuous CO(2) absorption was verified. Additionally, modeling to predict heats of reaction of aminosilicone solvents with CO(2) was in good agreement with experimental results.

Dielectric properties of polydicyclopentadiene and polydicyclopentadiene-silica nanocomposite

Conventional thermoset materials, such as epoxy, polyester, silicone and polyurethane, have relatively high dielectric losses and high dielectric constants, which are not desirable for a high frequency and high voltage application. Polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) is a polyolefinic thermoset material that has outstanding dielectric characteristics: low dielectric constant, low dielectric loss and high breakdown strength that are similar to polypropylene but higher thermal stability similar to epoxy. In addition, it also has great mechanical strength and fracture toughness. Due to its extremely low viscosity, PDCPD is easy to process and has flexibility for various reaction injection moldings. Dielectric performance, such as corona resistance, is further enhanced by PDCPD-nanosilica composites. In this paper, dielectric properties of PDCPD will be presented and discussed.

Novel High Capacity Oligomers for Low Cost CO2 Capture

The novel concept of using a molecule possessing both physi-sorbing and chemi-sorbing properties for post-combustion CO2 capture was explored and mixtures of aminosilicones and hydroxyterminated polyethers had the best performance characteristics of materials examined. The optimal solvent composition was a 60/40 blend of GAP-1/TEG and a continuous bench-top absorption/desorption unit was constructed and operated. Plant and process models were developed for this new system based on an existing coal-fired power plant and data from the laboratory experiments were used to calculate an overall COE for a coal-fired power plant fitted with this capture technology. A reduction in energy penalty, from 30% to 18%, versus an optimized 30% MEA capture system was calculated with a concomitant COE decrease from 73% to 41% for the new aminosilicone solvent system.