Carbon Capture Methods Research Articles

Redox-tunable isoindigos for electrochemically mediated carbon capture

Efficient CO2 separation technologies are essential for mitigating climate change. Compared to traditional thermochemical methods, electrochemically mediated carbon capture using redox-tunable sorbents emerges as a promising alternative due to its versatility and energy efficiency. However, the undesirable linear free-energy relationship between redox potential and CO2 binding affinity in existing chemistry makes it fundamentally challenging to optimise key sorbent properties independently via chemical modifications. Here, we demonstrate a design paradigm for electrochemically mediated carbon capture sorbents, which breaks the undesirable scaling relationship by leveraging intramolecular hydrogen bonding in isoindigo derivatives. The redox potentials of isoindigos can be anodically shifted by >350 mV to impart sorbents with high oxygen stability without compromising CO2 binding, culminating in a system with minimised parasitic reactions. With the synthetic space presented, our effort provides a generalisable strategy to finetune interactions between redox-active organic molecules and CO2, addressing a longstanding challenge in developing effective carbon capture methods driven by non-conventional stimuli.

Review of technologies for capturing carbon dioxide from industrial emissions as part of reducing the carbon footprint of plants and useful applications in water-gas stimulation techniques for enhanced oil recovery

The article discusses the importance of finding effective technological solutions for CO2 capture and subsequent utilisation in the context of underground storage or underground injection of carbon dioxide in order to implement water-gas effects to enhance hydrocarbon recovery. The authors also focus on current and promising carbon capture methods, comparing their technological features, advantages and disadvantages. Conclusions are drawn about which technological developments may be the most promising for solving the problem of reducing the carbon footprint of energy industry enterprises, and where there is a need for further research, despite the high energy costs and technological complexities.

Progress in Post-Combustion Technology for Carbon Dioxide Capture

In the face of climate change and global warming caused by the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide released by the combustion of fossil fuels, carbon capture technologies become pivotal for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. Among these carbon capture technologies, post-combustion capture has gained widespread application. In this article, the absorption and adsorption methods in post-combustion carbon capture technology, including the mechanism of the chemical and physical aspects of both methods as well as the absorbents and adsorbent materials used in them, will be specifically introduced. Moreover, the current and potential applications in the field of emissions reduction are also elaborated. These post-combustion carbon capture methods are expected to reduce environmental harm while maintaining energy efficiency, providing an effective solution to the problem of global warming.

Techno-Economic Analysis of State-of-the-Art Carbon Capture Technologies and Their Applications: Scient Metric Review

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are a serious hazard to human life and the ecosystem. This is the reason that many measures have been put in place by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to reduce the anthropogenic-derived CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Today, the potential of renewable energy sources has led to an increased interest in investment in carbon capture and storage technologies worldwide. The aim of this paper is to investigate state-of-the-art carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and their derivations for the identification of effective methods during the implementation of evidence-based energy policies. To this extent, this study reviews the current methods in three concepts: post-combustion; pre-combustion; and oxy-fuel combustion processes. The objective of this study is to explore the knowledge gap in recent carbon capture methods and provide a comparison between the most influential methods with high potential to aid in carbon capture. The study presents the importance of using all available technologies during the post-combustion process. To accomplish this, an ontological approach was adopted to analyze the feasibility of the CCS technologies available on the market. The study findings demonstrate that priority should be given to the applicability of certain methods for both industrial and domestic applications. On the contrary, the study also suggests that using the post-combustion method has the greatest potential, whereas other studies recommend the efficiency of the oxy-fuel process. Furthermore, the study findings also highlight the importance of using life cycle assessment (LCA) methods for the implementation of carbon capture technologies in buildings. This study contributes to the energy policy design related to carbon capture technologies in buildings.

Integrated Carbonate-Based CO2 Capture—Biofixation through Cyanobacteria

Microalgae, renowned for their high photosynthetic efficiency and minimal competition with land-based crops, hold great promise in the biofixation of CO2 from waste sources, making them valuable for diverse applications, including biofuels, food production, and biomaterials. An innovative technology, the integrated carbonate-based carbon capture and algae biofixation system is emerging as an alternative to traditional carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) methods. This closed-loop system utilizes bicarbonates as inorganic carbon sources, which can directly enter microalgae photosynthesis, subsequently regenerating carbonates for another cycle of carbon capture. This system offers significant advantages, including cost savings in carbon supply, simplified photobioreactor development, and reduced labor and energy requirements. Nevertheless, further research is essential to evaluate the suitability of various microorganisms and search for optimal growth conditions. In this study, we assessed the performance of two strains of Spirulina within the integrated system. Employing a Design of Experiments approach, we simultaneously varied temperature, bicarbonate concentration, and light irradiation while operating within a lab-scale photobioreactor. We achieved remarkable results, with a biomass productivity of 875 mg/L·d and an impressive CO2 utilization efficiency of 58%. These findings indicate a genuine opportunity for further exploration and scaling of this approach in industrial settings.

A mini-review on cryogenic carbon capture technology by desublimation: theoretical and modeling aspects

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies are the most effective methods to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuel power plants. Of the different CCUS technologies, cryogenic carbon capture (CCC) methods are the most mature technology as they can obtain remarkably high CO2 recovery and purity (99.99%). The significant advantage of the CCC process is that it can be easily retrofitted to existing systems and can handle the gas stream’s impurities. Different desublimation-based CCC technologies like Cryogenic packed bed, Anti sublimation, External cooling loop, CryoCell process and Novel low-cost CO2 capture technology (NLCCT) are reported in the literature. The significant limitations of these processes are the continuous removal of the dry ice into storage tanks. For the efficient design of CCC systems, accurate prediction of the phase equilibria data and modeling of the frost formation is called for. This paper reviews the recently reported cryogenic desublimation technologies and analyses the various challenges in making them economically viable. The article also examines the different heat and mass transfer models employed to model CO2 frost formation.

Life cycle assessment of carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies: An analytical review

The impact of climate change is more evident now than ever due to the environmental burden accumulated over the past two decades. Decarbonising methods such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies are the future of the green economy and are considered one of the most significant alternatives for mitigating carbon emissions. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on life cycle assessment (LCA), the current state-of-the-art tool to determine the environmental performance of the technologies. This paper aims to assess papers published from the year 2019 to 2022 from all around the world to understand the trend, challenges, and prospects of CCUS technologies in reducing carbon and environmental impacts. This review concludes that the employment of carbon capture technologies can significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but also increase other environmental burdens such as acidification, eutrophication and ecotoxicity depending on the type of carbon capture method used, energy penalty and the rate of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emitted from the carbon capture infrastructure. Furthermore, Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) is a viable option to be employed in industries mainly to produce chemicals and use the captured carbon directly to combat GHG emissions with the proper modification of the carbon conversion method of the plant and the application of renewable energy. Although the Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) technology has an overall great impact on reducing Global Warming Potential (GWP), the increasing demand for fuel for the infrastructure causes environmental trade-offs with an increase in GHG emissions and other impact categories. The findings of this research would help in developing and implementing improvised methods and will provide a clear view of the prospects of CCUS technologies which will assist in decision-making.

Effect of shock wave on nucleation and droplet growth of CO2 in flue gas in supersonic separators

To reduce carbon emissions caused by fossil fuel combustion, this work evaluates a potential carbon capture method. Based on heat transfer theory, aerodynamics and condensation dynamics, a mathematical model is proposed to depict the nonequilibrium condensation of CO2 in flue gas (N2–CO2). The interaction between shock wave and non-equilibrium condensation is clarified. The results show that when the shock wave enters nucleation area, the nucleation process is rapidly terminated and droplet growth process disappears. After the shock wave, the supersaturation decreases rapidly from 2.26 to 0.19, the gas changes from supersaturated state to unsaturated state, and the system returns to the thermodynamic equilibrium state. When the shock wave appears in the droplet growth area, there is a complete nucleation process. The gas molecules in front of the shock wave form stable droplets and release latent heat, leading to the fluctuation of temperature and pressure. After the shock wave, the droplet growth environment is destroyed, resulting in droplet radius and liquid content drop to 0. Increasing CO2 content can not only reduce the impact of shock wave on flows, but also strengthen the heat and mass transfer, and obtain larger droplet radius and higher liquid content.

A mineralogical carbon-capture method works—but not the way we thought

A mineralogical carbon-capture method works—but not the way we thought

Decarbonizing the future: Understanding carbon capture, utilization, and storage methods

Carbon capture refers to the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or directly at the source of its emissions. The latter employs chemical engineering to design capture systems for industries. Aqueous amine scrubbing makes use of amine based solvents to capture carbon dioxide from flue gas streams. The carbon, once captured, is compressed and redirected for either reutilisation or storage. In enhanced oil recovery, the CO2 is injected into oil and gas reservoirs to increase their extraction. Carbon storage methods work to remove the carbon from the atmosphere, and aid mitigation against carbon emissions from industry, thereby reducing the contribution to global warming and ocean acidification. This paper aims to provide the readers with an understanding of the technologies involved in the above processes.

Numerical study on carbon dioxide removal from the hydrogen-rich stream by supersonic Laval nozzle

A hydrogen purification system with a supersonic nozzle pretreatment process is proposed to improve the performance of traditional CO2 removal processes from hydrogen-rich streams. A mathematical model of the H2–CO2 double-component condensation was established to investigate the feasibility of CO2 capture in a hydrogen-rich stream using a supersonic nozzle. Compared to the single-phase model, this model is more similar to the objective flow facts and can effectively correct the deviation of the single-phase flow model by 21.4%. Furthermore, the parameters in the H2–CO2 double-components spontaneous condensation process in the nozzle were analyzed, and the microscopic mechanism of CO2 spontaneous condensation was clarified. Finally, the effects of the inlet parameters on the carbon capture efficiency were analyzed. The results indicated that the nozzle is more suitable for purifying hydrogen-rich streams with low temperatures and high carbon content, confirming the possibility of using a supersonic nozzle as a carbon capture method.

Technology and advancement in carbon capture based on post-combustion

Carbon capture technologies are urgently required to reduce carbon emissions and reach the target of net-zero emissions for all countries because the significant amount of CO2 emissions brought on by human activities has contributed to many environmental problems, including global warming and extreme climate. In this paper, the fundamentals of the three primary post-combustion CO2 capture methods—absorption separation, adsorption separation, and membrane separation—are discussed. Additionally, the most recent advancements in these technologies are discussed. The paper also compares the benefits and drawbacks of each of the three technologies, emphasizing a number of difficulties and challenges currently faced by each of the three carbon capture technologies, including high cost, high energy consumption, low stability and low selectivity. Finally, the development prospects and research priorities of the three carbon capture methods are analyzed, and it is indicated that the primary paths for the advancement of carbon capture technologies in the future will be cost reduction and rapid commercialization and industrialization.

Integration of carbon capture technologies in blast furnace based steel making: A comprehensive and systematic review

Decarbonization of the iron and steel industry, which accounts for 7–9% of global annual emissions, is a strategic objective to achieve carbon emissions reduction targets in line with climate change policies, while maintaining economic competitiveness. Carbon capture (CC) technologies are of critical importance to achieve these goals. This work presents the first systematic review of the integration of CC technologies in the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) steelmaking route, which is expected to maintain a dominant market share over the coming decades. Integration options for post-combustion, looping cycles, oxy-combustion and pre-combustion are described and compared in terms of energy penalty, carbon emissions abatement potential, cost, technology readiness level, and practical deployment considerations. The review yielded 188 studies from peer-reviewed articles and technical papers. Research is mainly focused on chemical absorption, physical adsorption, and oxy-blast furnace technologies, but other carbon capture methods including calcium looping, Sorption Enhanced Water Gas Shift, and membranes appear promising in terms of cost and carbon emission reduction. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of the art and crucial considerations for future decision making in the techno-economic selection and integration of CC technologies. Barriers to overcome for practical implementation are also identified and discussed in this article.

Atomic oxygen assisted CO2 conversion: A theoretical analysis

With climate change still a pressing issue, there is a great need for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) methods. We propose a novel concept where CO2 conversion is accomplished by O2 splitting followed by the addition of O atoms to CO2. The latter is studied here by means of kinetic modelling. In the first instance, we study various CO2/O ratios, and we observe an optimal CO2 conversion of around 30–40% for 50% O addition. Gas temperature also has a large influence, with a minimum temperature of around 1000 K to a maximum of 2000 K for optimal conversion. In the second instance, we study various CO2/O/O2 ratios, due to O2 being a starting gas. Also here we define optimal regions for CO2 conversion, which reach maximum conversion for a CO2 fraction of 50% and an O/O2 ratio bigger than 1. Those can be expanded by heating on one hand, for low atomic oxygen availability, and by quenching after reaction on the other hand, for cases where the temperatures are too high. Our model predictions can serve as a guideline for experimental research in this domain.

Direct air capture of CO2 by KOH-activated bamboo biochar

Direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 is considered one of the most promising carbon capture methods to reduce ambient CO2 concentration for climate change mitigation. Biochar represents an attractive adsorbent for DAC because it is environmentally friendly and cost-effective. In this work, KOH-activated bamboo biochar shows the CO2 capture capacity of 3.49 mmol g−1 (25 °C, 1 bar), and it is used as an adsorbent to perform direct air capture using a fixed-bed reactor with an ambient CO2 capture capacity of up to 51.74 μmol g−1. Furthermore, the effect of relative humidity on CO2 adsorption by biochar was investigated and exhibited promising stability under 2.7% relative humidity. However, the biochar activity for CO2 capture is reduced to 63.88% under 67.1% humidity after 50 cycles.

Modification of carbonation-cured cement mortar using biochar and its environmental evaluation

Despite being considered as a potential carbon capture method, carbonation curing of cement-based materials are still accompanied by serious concerns now. Strength loss and shrinkage can be induced by pre-conditioning and excessive carbonation exposure; Difficulty of inward diffusion of CO2 leads to relatively low total carbonation degree. In this work, biochar prepared from corn straw at various pyrolysis temperature was added in cement mortars with dosages of 1–5% to solve these above issues. The results indicate that addition of biochar compensates for the strength loss and increase in water penetration of cement mortar caused by carbonation curing. It was also found that biochar-blended cement mortar possesses improved pore structure and promoted internal CO2 uptake of cement mortar. Besides, environmental evaluation shows that the combination of carbonation curing and biochar can reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of concrete products effectively.

Trade-Off between Redox Potential and the Strength of Electrochemical CO2 Capture in Quinones.

Electrochemical carbon dioxide capture recently emerged as a promising alternative approach to conventional energy-intensive carbon-capture methods. A common electrochemical capture approach is to employ redox-active molecules such as quinones. Upon electrochemical reduction, quinones become activated for the capture of CO2 through a chemical reaction. A key disadvantage of this method is the possibility of side-reactions with oxygen, which is present in almost all gas mixtures of interest for carbon capture. This issue can potentially be mitigated by fine-tuning redox potentials through the introduction of electron-withdrawing groups on the quinone ring. In this article, we investigate the thermodynamics of the electron transfer and chemical steps of CO2 capture in different quinone derivatives with a range of substituents. By combining density functional theory calculations and cyclic voltammetry experiments, we support a previously described trade-off between the redox potential and the strength of CO2 capture. We show that redox potentials can readily be tuned to more positive values to impart stability to oxygen, but significant decreases in CO2 binding free energies are observed as a consequence. Our calculations support this effect for a large series of anthraquinones and benzoquinones. Different trade-off relationships were observed for the two classes of molecules. These trade-offs must be taken into consideration in the design of improved redox-active molecules for electrochemical CO2 capture.

Recent developments in CO 2 capture, utilization, related materials, and challenges

Anthropogenic activities including the combustion of fossil fuels have led to a dramatic increase in the rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission in the last three decades. Since fossil-based fuels are still the predominant energy source for this century, CO2 is a colossal problem. It is emitted as a consequence of combustion and human activities and is a major greenhouse gas (GHG) that significantly contributes to climate change and global warming, making CO2 emission a worldwide problem. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has proposed a 45% decrease in anthropogenic CO2 emissions by 2030, with a target of “net-zero” CO2 emissions by 2050. Despite its harmful effects, CO2 has the potential to be used for a wide range of different industrial needs, after its capture. CO2 capture technologies are still in the early stage of development because of economic and technological issues. However, in the future, carbon capture and related application technologies and methods may become easier and more accessible due to the new developments in the materials synthesis, strategies and skills and inexpensive utilization, and functioning cost of the employed methods. Furthermore, carbon capture system (CCS) might improve the recent power plan system properties. Concerning climate change, carbon capture is deemed as a promising solution to prevent CO2 emissions. CO2 capture, storage, and utilization are garnering intensive interest from scientists worldwide. This review paper identifies and gave particular attention to the literature on the recent CO2 capture technologies, for example, adsorption, absorption, membrane, and algae-based separation techniques for pre-combustion, oxy-fuel combustion, and post-combustion periods. Aside from all of these capture technologies, the utilization and application of captured CO2 in various industrial fields such as solvents, chemicals, and fuels are evaluated.

Self-optimizing control and safety assessment to achieve economic and safe operation for oxy-fuel combustion boiler island systems

Oxy-fuel combustion is a promising carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) method to reduce CO2 emissions in power plants. However, it faces with the issues of high energy-cost penalties and operating risks. In this work, a combined control optimization and safety analysis are applied to optimize the control and operation of oxy-fuel combustion boiler island system. To maximize the specific operating profit, a new self-optimizing control structure is proposed to optimize the selection of desirable controlled variables. This control structure shows a robust controllability and maintains a maximum specific operating profit around 28.7 $/tCO2. Moreover, the operating profit exhibits an opposite tendency to load change, increases with the increasing oxygen supply purity and keeps constant in presence of air leakage. The failure of oxygen concentration controller causes some fluctuations on the dynamic behavior of operating parameters at water-steam and flue gas sides. The loss of oxygen flow control loop leads to a larger effect on the dynamic responses of operating parameters than the fault of oxygen concentration control loop during load change and oxygen supply purity change operating scenarios. The results provide a new route to improve control reliabilities, reduce operating costs and guide safe operations for oxy-fuel combustion systems.

Study Reviews Carbon-Capture Methods in Steelmaking Plants

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 31540, “Comparative Review Study on Different Carbon-Capture Methods and Applications in Steelmaking Plants From an Economic Point of View,” by Thinesh S. Arul Rajoo, Khaled A. Elraies, SPE, and Ully Z. Husna, SPE, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2022 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission. The complete paper discusses carbon-capture processes and applications in the steelmaking industry from an economic point of view. Carbon capture is an expensive process, which can create hesitation in implementation. However, this process has not been properly quantified, which is the authors’ primary goal. Introduction The first portion of the complete paper describes the primary techniques used in carbon capture: - Chemical absorption - Physical absorption and membrane separation - Precombustion - Oxyfuel and partial oxyfuel combustion - Direct air capture