Chapter 1 - CO2 capture, storage, transformation, and utilization: An introduction

Abstract

Since the advent of the industrial revolution, we have seen a global rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased 47% since industrial revolution. This rise in CO2 levels has led to the global environmental problem of climate change. This is something that is impacting the global population and therefore needed to be addressed. This unprecedented rise in the carbon emissions is linked with ever increasing burning of fossil fuels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its 5th assessment report has attributed 65% of the CO2 emissions due to fossil fuel combustion alone in 2010. Hence, it is inevitable to curtail the CO2 emissions globally to save the planet Earth from the catastrophic impacts of the global warming and climate change. To reduce the rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere, researchers have started investigating the process of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and its subsequent utilization. In this process, the excessive CO2 is captured from the atmosphere and either stored in deep geological formations or converted into useful substances and biofuels. This not only promotes resource conservation but also converts the pollution source into a valuable resource. This chapter gives a brief introduction of the different processes that are involved in each step of CCS, starting with the capture, transport, storage, transformation, and utilization of the gas.