Developing Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF) to Achieve Earth-Like CO2 Levels for Advanced Space Exploration

"Achieving earth-like CO2 levels for space exploration requires an effective carbon removal technology that occupies minimal volume and consumes minimal energy. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) or porous coordination polymers have demonstrated exceptional CO2 adsorption capacities and can be easily regenerated using low-grade heat. In this paper, the results of a screening study are presented where several candidates are assessed. Adsorbents are assessed using a mini-breakthrough experiment to measure the CO2 adsorption capacity, kinetics and cyclability. Effects of humidity are also explored to understand the system requirements for dehumidification. Candidates with a degree of hydrophobicity make it possible to reduce the size of the dehumidification component. Promising candidates could be a direct replacement for the 4-Bed Molecular Sieve system that currently utilizes zeolites. Advantages include reduced system size, increased CO2 removal performance, and low power consumption. The next stage of development includes a scaled-up experiment to test 1 kg of adsorbent under relevant environmental conditions."