Iranian Scientists, Colleagues Solve Mystery of CO₂ Absorption in Hydrocarbons
The scientists carried out the research with the aim of improving subsurface CO₂ storage processes and developing methods for enhanced oil recovery with CO₂ (CO₂-EOR). Using Raman spectroscopy and combined Monte Carlo/molecular mechanics simulations, the researchers investigated the effect of pressure and temperature on the dissolution rate of CO₂ in hexadecane, and the results showed that increasing temperature reduces solubility and increasing pressure increases it.
These data can help develop more accurate prediction models and artificial intelligence for hydrocarbon resource management and carbon storage, and are an effective step towards reducing the effects of climate change and optimizing fossil energy extraction.
The research team used Raman spectroscopy to measure the dissolution rate of CO₂ in hexadecane in the temperature range of 25 to 200 degrees Celsius and pressure of 1 to 15 MPa. In this experiment, standard samples of hexadecane and CO₂ were mixed in glass materials (fused silica) and after reaching equilibrium, Raman spectroscopy was performed to obtain the relationship between the mole fraction of CO₂ and the ratio of the area of Raman peaks.
The experimental results showed that with increasing temperature, the dissolution rate of CO₂ decreased and with increasing pressure, this rate increased. This pattern indicates the importance of precise control of pressure and temperature parameters in industrial processes and subsurface storage.
In a relevant development in October, Iranian scientist Saeed Askari, in cooperation with his colleagues, had also developed a solution that could transform the future of clean energy storage after developing a record-breaking zinc-air battery by using heat-treated 3D materials and atomic-level cobalt doping.
The Melbourne-based Monash University research team introduced a new catalyst that promises to enhance next-gen batteries with greater power, extended lifespan, and reduced costs.
They revealed that the innovation outperforms standard commercial catalysts made from expensive metals like platinum and ruthenium.
Askari, a PhD student at the university, along with Parama Banerjee, PhD, a senior lecturer in the department ofchemical and biological engineering, who led the research, reportedly used heat treatment to turn 3D material into ultra-thin carbon-sheets.
“By engineering cobalt and iron as individual atoms on a carbon framework, we achieved record-breaking performance in zinc-air batteries, showing what is possible when catalysts are designed with atomic precision,” Askari reported.
Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are metal-air electrochemical cells powered by the oxidation of zinc with oxygen from the air. They comprise a zinc metal anode coupled to oxygen through an air anode.
Known for their high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness due to zinc’s abundance, zinc–air batteries are gaining increasing attention. They are emerging as a promising solution for high-capacity applications such as portable electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage.
ZABs are usually non-rechargeable, but researchers are working on making them rechargeable for use in electric vehicles (EVs) and large-scale energy storage.
Still, the practical application of these batteries mainly faces two challenges, such as limited output power and poor charge-discharge stability.
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