Chemical Looping


Do you know what the 2 main component of the air are? The first may be obvious, its oxygen which you all have probably heard of – we rely on it to breathe. The other may not be so familiar, its nitrogen. The reason you might not have ever heard of nitrogen is that it have very little use. Many chemical processes, like burning, rely on oxygen. The nitrogen often gets in the way making the process less efficient. If pure oxygen can be used rather than air (which is only 21% oxygen), the processes can become more efficient and produce less waste and pollution. Current processes to get pure oxygen are very costly but a new process called Chemical Looping provides another way to get pure oxygen from the air.

Chemical Looping TEK8 Student Guide

The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.

Chemical Looping TEK8 Instructor’s Guide

This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.

Telling the Story Video

The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.

Design Challenge Video

The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.