A research paper co-authored by Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) researchers Dr Mijndert van der Spek and Dr Fariborz Shaahmadi has been selected as an Editor’s Choice paper in the June 2026 volume of Carbon Capture Science & Technology.
The paper, entitled “Experimental Results and Mechanistic Modelling Insights of Pilot Scale Electrochemical CO₂ Capture Demonstration at a Refinery,” presents the development, operation and mechanistic analysis of an electrochemically regenerated carbon-capture process demonstrated using real refinery flue gas.
The research was conducted as part of the EU-funded ConsenCUS project, which is developing and scaling up an electrochemical approach to solvent regeneration for post-combustion CO₂ capture. RCCS contributes to the project through process modelling, technology assessment, pilot-plant design and the identification of operating conditions for demonstration-scale deployment.
Demonstrating electrochemical capture under industrial conditions
The demonstration system integrated flue-gas pre-treatment, a potassium-based absorption process and a bipolar membrane electrodialysis stack for electrochemical solvent regeneration.
Unlike conventional solvent-regeneration processes that rely on high-temperature thermal energy, the investigated process uses electricity to regenerate the capture solvent. This creates the potential for carbon-capture systems that can be increasingly coupled with low-carbon electricity.
The integrated capture and regeneration system was operated continuously for more than 500 hours using real refinery flue gas. During the campaign, the process produced a CO₂ stream with a purity exceeding 98% by volume, demonstrating that electrochemical solvent regeneration can be implemented beyond laboratory scale.
The study also reported capture efficiencies ranging from 10% to 90%, reflecting the wide range of operating conditions examined during the demonstration.
Mechanistic modelling reveals scale-up priorities
Experimental observations were combined with mechanistic modelling to interpret the behaviour of the integrated system and identify the parameters governing capture performance, solvent regeneration and energy consumption.
The analysis showed that the bipolar membrane electrodialysis unit could generate the acidic and alkaline streams required for CO₂ release and solvent recovery.
These findings provide an important and transparent assessment of the current technology readiness. They demonstrate the technical feasibility of electrochemical solvent regeneration at pilot scale while identifying membrane performance, current efficiency, solvent management and system integration as priorities for future research and optimisation.
In selecting the publication for Editor’s Choice, the journal editor commented:
“The paper stands out for combining a genuine industrial-scale demonstration with over 500 h of integrated operation on real refinery flue gas, delivering high-purity CO₂, and for highlighting the limitations of current technology development.”
The recognition highlights the value of combining long-duration industrial demonstration with mechanistic process modelling. Such integrated assessments are essential for understanding not only whether emerging carbon-capture technologies operate successfully, but also how their performance, energy requirements and scale-up potential can be improved.
Dr Mijndert van der Spek, Associate Professor and RCCS Associate Director of Technology and System Assessment, and Dr Fariborz Shaahmadi, Research Associate at RCCS, contributed to the process modelling and analysis undertaken within the wider collaborative research programme.
The paper is featured in the Editor’s Choice section of the Carbon Capture Science & Technology website and promoted through the journal’s professional and social-media channels.
Publication details
Title: Experimental Results and Mechanistic Modelling Insights of Pilot Scale Electrochemical CO₂ Capture Demonstration at a Refinery
Journal: Carbon Capture Science & Technology
Volume: 19
Article: 100632
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccst.2026.100632