CO2 Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration Strategies

Yatish T. Shah

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781032124803
• eBook ISBN: 9781000479768
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Environmental Management
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Offering practical treatment strategies for CO2 emission generated from various energy-related sources, CO2 Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration Strategies emphasizes carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) with special focus on methods for each component of the strategy. While other books mostly focus on CCS strategy for CO2, this book details the technologies available for utilization of CO2, showing how it can be a valuable renewable source for chemicals, materials, fuels, and power instead of a waste material damaging the environment.

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• Highlights current and potential future commercially viable CCUS strategies

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• Discusses applications for direct and the more complex indirect utilization of CO2 streams

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• Examines viability of the mineral carbonation process and biological treatments to convert CO2 into useful biochemicals, biomaterials, and biofuels

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• Explores heterogeneous catalysis for thermal and electrochemical conversion and solar energy-based thermal, photo-thermal, and photocatalytic conversion of CO2

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• Presents the rapidly growing concept of plasma-activated catalysis for CO2 conversion

CO2 Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration Strategies is a valuable reference for researchers in academia, industry, and government organizations seeking a guide to effective CCUS processes, technologies, and applications.

1 Sources of Carbon Dioxide Emission and Possible Treatment Strategies

DOI: 10.1201/9781003229575-1

1.1 Introduction

Carbon emission in the environment is a major societal issue because it is closely linked to the global warming and resulting in negative impacts on weather patterns and sea level rise. Two major carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere by human activities and other natural causes are carbon dioxide and methane [1]. While methane can be more problematic greenhouse gas (24–130 times more harmful than carbon dioxide), it is emitted in a lesser volume and it eventually gets converted to carbon dioxide by atmospheric reactions. Once captured, the utilization of methane is much less challenging because methane is very reactive and can be easily used for power or the productions of other chemicals and fuels. Sources of methane are not all human made; a significant amount of methane is produced from animal manure, agricultural sources, leakage of methane hydrates, etc. Methane leakage from oil and gas industry (commonly called associated gas or gas flares), from landfill gas, or from other biomass waste treatment facilities is being captured and put to useful utilization. Since the major issue with methane emission is its capture, this book will not address the treatment of methane emission.

The emission of carbon dioxide is more human made. As demands for energy have increased globally, CO₂ levels have risen sharply, from pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm a century ago to over 400 ppm since 2013. These levels also include emissions generated from other, nonenergy sources, including steel, aluminum, and cement production; fermentation; chemical production; and other industrial sources. Continued economic and population growth drives the increase in CO₂ emissions, and the levels of emissions, if left unchecked, are projected to exceed 530 ppm by 2100. Goals for stabilizing CO₂ levels at ≤450 ppm were set in 2007 to avoid serious impacts on the environment and health [2]. To meet these goals, however, requires substantial improvements in energy efficiency, increased deployment of renewable and nuclear energy, and the development of new technologies for mitigating CO₂ emissions arising from the use of fossil fuels and other anthropogenic sources [3].

In 2014, the global carbon emissions from fossil-derived fuel combustion were estimated to be 9,855 million metric tons of carbon, or nearly 36 gigatons (Gt) of CO₂ [4]. About a quarter of these emissions come from mobile sources, such as automobiles and other forms of transportation. Much of the remainder comes from point sources—plants used for generation of electricity and heat for industry, business, and home use, as well as industrial production processes. It is these so-called point sources that are the focus of technologies for mitigating global CO₂ emissions. Efforts are being made to reduce carbon emission from vehicles by replacing internal combustion engine-driven vehicles with hybrid and electric vehicles.

Carbon dioxide is a very stable molecule, and it is emitted at a significantly large scale. According to a national academy report [1], approximately 10,000 teragrams (Tg) of waste gas carbon is emitted globally each year (see Table 1.1), representing a large volume of potential inputs for carbon treatment technologies. However, these gaseous waste streams are heterogeneous in their composition, are emitted from a wide range of geographically distributed sources, and are not always easily transported from their sources to locations where they can be processed. This heterogeneity poses challenges for carbon dioxide treatment. As shown in Figure 1.1, sources of GHG include fossil fuel combustion, natural gas systems, coal mining, waste incineration, etc. Energy-related activities are the primary sources of U.S. anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 83.8% of total greenhouse gas emissions on a carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent basis in 2016. Energy-related CO₂ emissions alone constituted 78.9% of national emissions from all sources on a CO₂ equivalent basis, while the non-CO₂ emissions from energy-related activities represent a much smaller portion of total national emissions (4.9% collectively). Emissions from fossil fuel combustion comprise the vast majority of energy-related emissions, with CO₂ being the primary gas emitted (see Figure 1.1). Globally, approximately 32,294 million metric tons (MMT) of CO₂ were added to the atmosphere through the combustion of fossil fuels in 2015, of which the United States accounted for approximately 15%.

TABLE 1.1 Chronological Increase in Carbon Emission [1]

Year	Carbon Emission (Tg)
1900	About 600
1942	About 1,200
1956	About 2,000
1966	About ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Series Page
• Series Preface
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Author
• Chapter 1 Sources of Carbon Dioxide Emission and Possible Treatment Strategies
• Chapter 2 Methods for Carbon Dioxide Capture/Concentrate, Transport/Storage, and Direct Utilization
• Chapter 3 Carbon Capture by Mineral Carbonation and Production of Construction Materials
• Chapter 4 Biological Conversion of Carbon Dioxide
• Chapter 5 CO2 Conversion to Fuels and Chemicals by Thermal and Electro-Catalysis
• Chapter 6 Carbon Dioxide Conversion Using Solar Thermal and Photo Catalytic Processes
• Chapter 7 Plasma-Activated Catalysis for CO2 Conversion
• Index