The Capture Pillar

The Trienens Institute Capture pillar aims to create technologies and processes to remove carbon dioxide from dilute sources.

Decarbonization research and innovation are central to the work of the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy. Together, the Trienens Institute Pillars of Decarbonization are building a suite of complementary solutions for a vibrant, sustainable future. Northwestern researchers, who are global leaders in their fields, are guiding diverse teams of experts to progress in this urgent mission.

Why do we need carbon capture?

At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was about 280 parts per million (ppm).

Today, that number has increased to more than 400 ppm, leading to rising global temperatures. One way that we can mitigate climate change and its impacts is by pulling billions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂₎ from the atmosphere.

What is carbon capture?

Carbon capture is a powerful tool in the global fight against climate change. It involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) right at the polluting source — like at factories in the steel and cement industries — but also from the air itself. It can address industries that are especially difficult to decarbonize and remove historical emissions. As part of the Trienens Institute’s Capture pillar, Northwestern is leading the development and testing of porous materials and other new methods of capturing carbon. Research under the pillar is designed to test early ideas and secure funding for continued work on the ones that are most promising.

How can we capture carbon dioxide?

Capturing carbon dioxide from dilute sources such as the air and sea, and later sequestering it constitutes a major engineering challenge. While there are pilot projects around the world aiming to capture CO₂ from the air, so far no project has done so at a large enough scale to make a difference. Partnership and other forms of support are essential to success in this field.

The Northwestern Solution

The Capture Pillar’s goal is to develop and test innovation and technology related to carbon capture and sequestration, and to secure funding for the most promising ideas. Along the way, pillar researchers will endeavor to partner with industries to help make new technologies a reality and scale-up existing opportunities.

The Experts

Omar K. Farha, Capture Pillar Co-Chair

Omar K. Farha

Chair and Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor in Chemistry
Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering (Courtesy Appointment)
Affiliate, International Institute for Nanotechnology

Omar K. Farha is the Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Chemistry and Department Chair at Northwestern University, an Executive Editor for ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, and President of Numat Technologies. His current research spans diverse areas of chemistry and materials science ranging from energy to defense-related challenges. His research accomplishments have been recognized by several awards and honors including a fellow of the European Academy of Sciences, Kuwait Prize, Japanese Society of Coordination Chemistry “International award for creative work”, the Royal Society of Chemistry “Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division Early Career” Award, the American Chemical Society “The Satinder Ahuja Award for Young Investigators in Separation Science” and “ACS ENFL Emerging Researcher Award”, and an award established by the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University in his honor: the Omar Farha Award for Research Leadership “awarded for stewardship, cooperation and leadership in the finest pursuit of research in chemistry” and given annually to an outstanding research scientist working in the department. Prof. Farha has more than 680 peer-reviewed publications, holds 17 patents, 112,000 citation and h-index of 167 (Google Scholar), and has been named a “Highly Cited Researcher” from 2014 to 2024.

Randall Snurr, Capture Pillar Co-Chair

Randall Q. Snurr

John G. Searle Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Randall Q. Snurr is the John G. Searle Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University, where he served as Department Chair from 2017 to 2023. His research interests include development of new nanoporous materials for solving energy and sustainability problems such as CO₂ capture, molecular simulation, machine learning, adsorption separations, diffusion in nanoporous materials, and catalysis. His work has been recognized with by a fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Ernest W. Thiele Award from the Chicago Section of AIChE, and election as a corresponding member of the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities. He has been named a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics from 2014 to 2023. He served as a Senior Editor for the Journal of Physical Chemistry and is currently on the advisory boards of several journals. His work has been reported in ~350 publications with over 60,000 citations.

Filip Formalik

Research Assistant Professor
Capture Pillar Representative,
Trienens Research Implementation Committee (TRIC)
filip.formalik@northwestern.edu

Milad Ahmadi Khoshooei

Postdoctoral Fellow, Farha Group
Capture Pillar Representative,
Trienens Research Implementation Committee (TRIC)
milad.ahmadikhoshooei@northwestern.edu

Charles Musgrave

Kreamer CleanTech Innovation Fellow,
Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy
Postdoctoral Scholar, Sargent Group
charles.musgrave@northwestern.edu

Current Projects

Launching the Midwest Nuclear Direct Air Capture Hub

The Midwest Nuclear Direct Air Capture Hub (MINDAC) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded hub that will test the feasibility of using a zero-emissions nuclear fleet to power air handling units that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Soaking-up Atmospheric Carbon with 'Sponges'

Northwestern is leading the development and testing of nanoporous materials and other new methods of capturing carbon metal-organic frameworks — highly structured, porous nanomaterials — can act as sponges that soak up CO₂ while leaving water in the air.

Partnering with Farmers to Harness the Power of Rocks for Carbon Capture

With funding from the U.S. Dept. of Energy, a new project led by faculty Andrew D. Jacobson and Brad Sageman will distribute crushed limestone on a downstate Illinois farm and analyze its ability to remove atmospheric CO₂.

In another two-year demonstration project, Northwestern geologists, plant scientists, and student start-up Vaulterra are collaborating with the Chicago Botanic Garden to explore the carbon sequestration power and potential plant benefits of enhanced rock weathering.

Learn More

In the News

Testing limestone’s ability to capture carbon from air
Researchers receive funding to partner with Illinois farms to study enhanced rock weathering for carbon capture | FULL STORY >
Northwestern to lead Midwestern carbon-capture hub
Newest U.S. Department of Energy-funded Midwestern carbon-capture hub, MINDAC, will unite prominent partners from research and industry | FULL STORY >
Northwestern receives DOE funding to study carbon capture systems
Northwestern received $3.3 million to examine how the dynamic behavior of promising carbon capture systems impacts the systems’ ability to capture and release carbon dioxide | FULL STORY >
Demonstrating enhanced rock weathering
Two-year demo project explores carbon sequestration power, plant benefits of enhanced rock weathering | FULL STORY >

How can I support carbon capture?

You can support cutting edge research in carbon capture through the Trienens Institute Capture Pillar in several ways. Become a scientific partner or make a gift in support of the Institute. For industry professionals and other leaders who wish to go deeper, consider corporate partnership opportunities. For broader impact, consider joining the Trienens Institute Executive Council.