Danbury ATMI Inc., best known for its semiconductor-production technology, is ready to try its hand at applying some of it to scrubbing carbon dioxide from fossil-fueled powerplant emissions.
ATMI says it will partner with California’s SRI International to commercialize a carbon dioxide capture system based on ATMI’s proprietary BrightBlack carbon absorbent technology used in silicon-chip production.
SRI has designed an absorbent-gas separation system based on BrightBlack, ATMI said. BrightBlack is made up of microscopic carbon beads that bind with carbon atoms released in the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas.
A small field test of the system was recently completed, successful results of which are due to be shared at a carbon-dioxide capture technology meeting July 9 in Pittsburgh, the company said.
Tests, it said, showed the system is able to remove about 90 percent of carbon dioxide emitted from coal- or natural gas-fired power stations.
ATMI first developed BrightBlack to absorb highly toxic and dangerous gases used to make microchips.
Over the last eight years, ATMI says it has produced nearly 50 metric tons of its microporous carbon absorbents.
SRI, formerly Stanford Research Institute, specializes in technology R&D for commercial and defense applications.
