AGC develops chemical absorption solution for enhanced CO₂ capture from air

DAC is considered an essential technology for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and research towards its practical application is progressing worldwide. The absorption solution developed by AGC for DAC uses polypropylene glycol (PPG) as a non-aqueous chemical absorption solution. It significantly reduces energy consumption during CO₂ capture compared to conventional aqueous chemical absorption solutions.

A demonstration experiment using the absorption solution to capture CO₂ was conducted at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai started on April 13.

DAC is a technology that separates and captures the approximately 0.04% of CO₂ present in the air using CO₂ capture devices. Various methods are being researched for practical application. Among these, the method of using chemical absorption solutions to capture CO₂ is notable for its ease of scaling up the equipment, making it promising for future use in large facilities such as factories.

However, most chemical absorption solutions are mixtures of amines and water, which poses a challenge: when heat energy is applied to separate and capture CO₂, the water evaporates, leading to excess energy consumption.

In response, they have developed a non-aqueous amine absorption solution that significantly reduces the energy consumption required for CO₂ capture. The primary material of this absorption solution, polypropylene glycol is characterized by low volatility, resulting in minimal energy loss due to evaporation. Moreover, polypropylene glycol has high compatibility with amine compounds, allowing for stable separation and capture of CO₂.

Additionally, their absorption solution is expected to be utilized in the 'Cryo-DAC', which recycles the -160°C waste cold energy generated during the vaporization of liquefied natural gas to capture CO₂. Since 2023, they have been conducting joint research with Nagoya University on the application of this absorption solution in Cryo-DAC.

Moving forward, they will also participate as a subcontractor in the 'Moonshot Research and Development Program' by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), in which Nagoya University is involved, to further advance research towards the practical application of our absorption solution.

Furthermore, they are exploring the application of our absorption solution to various CO₂-containing gases, such as factory exhaust gases, in addition to Cryo-DAC.

In its medium-term management plan AGC plus-2026, the AGC Group has defined 'Deepening of Sustainability Management' as one of its key strategies and set a goal of achieving 'Carbon Neutrality by 2050'. Going forward, the AGC Group will continue to contribute to the realization of a sustainable global environment through its unique materials and solutions.