Carbon Dioxide Utilization Research Articles

Climate performance of liquefied biomethane with carbon dioxide utilization or storage

In the process of upgrading biogas to biomethane for gas grid injection or use as a vehicle fuel, biogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) is separated and normally emitted to the atmosphere. Meanwhile, there are a number of ways of utilizing CO₂ to reduce the dependency on fossil carbon sources. This article assesses the climate performance of liquefied biomethane for road transport with different options for utilization or storage of CO₂. The analysis is done from a life cycle perspective, covering the required and avoided processes from biogas production to the end use of biomethane and CO₂. The results show that all of the studied options for CO₂ utilization can improve the climate performance of biomethane, in some cases contributing to negative CO₂ emissions. One of the best options, from a climate impact perspective, is to use the CO₂ internally to produce more methane, although continuous supply of hydrogen from renewable sources can be a challenge. Another option that stands out is concrete curing, where CO₂ can both replace conventional steam curing and be stored for a long time in mineral form. Storing CO₂ in geological formations can also lead to negative CO₂ emissions. However, with such long-term storage solutions, opportunities to recycle biogenic CO₂ are lost, together with the possibility of de-fossilizing processes that require carbon, such as chemical production and horticulture.

Evaluating the impact of technological innovation and energy efficiency on load capacity factor: empirical analysis of India.

The determinants of environmental degradation have been investigated many times by utilizing carbon dioxide emissions and/or ecological footprint. However, these traditional environmental degradation indicators do not consider the supply side of environmental problems. Therefore, this study focuses on the dynamic influence of financial development, energy efficiency, economic growth, and technological innovation on environmental degradation in India through the load capacity factor, including both the supply and demand sides of environmental problems. For that purpose, the recently developed dynamically simulated autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method is employed using the annual time-series data extending from 1980-2020. The dynamically simulated ARDL results demonstrate that financial development, economic growth, and technological innovation have a dynamic adverse impact on the load capacity factor, whereas energy efficiency has a positive dynamic influence on environmental quality. In addition, the results support the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis as the negative effect of economic growth on environmental quality decreases over time. Based on the study findings, policy recommendations are provided for India. Finally, this study utilizing load capacity factor as an indicator for environmental quality will provide new topics in exploring the determinants of environmental degradation.

An integrated model to investigate optimized CO2 utilization and risk mitigation in offshore hydrocarbon reservoirs

This study addresses the dual challenge of balancing increasing energy demands with climate change mitigation through optimized carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization (CO2U) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). This work presents a composite dynamic risk model for CO2-EOR operations, synergizing deterministic and data-driven methodologies for post-CO2 injection initiation. The primary focus is to gain a further understanding of the impact of CO2 injection on reservoir functionality, stability, and potential leaks in offshore deployment. The integrated novel model involves a spatial and temporal deterministic model with a data-driven strategy, incorporating an artificial neural network (ANN) fine-tuned via particle swarm optimization (PSO) for co-optimization of oil production and CO2 storage. Furthermore, an innovative early warning index system (EWIS) is proposed by integrating a dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) model for probabilistic loss evaluation and pressure maintenance impact assessment. The proposed DBN strategy generates dynamic risk profiles, facilitating a cost-efficient and computationally simpler risk monitoring system. The findings from the study show a recovery of 17.14 thousand barrels (Mbbls) from the total original oil-in-place (OOIP) through this CO2-EOR approach in its debut year, coupled with over 74% CO2 retention. The proposed model offers a robust tool for concurrent optimization of oil production and CO2 storage, whilst ensuring meticulous dynamic risk analysis throughout CO2U processes.

Carbon Dioxide Utilization Using Plasma Reactor Packed with Magnesia-Ceria Catalysts with Various Morphology

A series of CeO2–MgO catalysts with different molar ratio was prepared for the plasma-activated CO2 decomposition to CO and O2. The catalysts were synthesized by the sol-gel method and characterized by physicochemical methods (XRD, SEM, XPS, low-temperature N2 adsorption, CO2-TPD). The highest CO2 conversion (31%) was achieved in the presence of the catalyst with the highest CeO2 content. The addition of H2 into a CO2 decomposition system was also studied. No CO2 methanation occurred in the presence of synthesized catalysts, though an increase in the CO2-to-CO conversion was observed due to an increase of a discharge power in the presence of molecular hydrogen.

Utility of end-tidal carbon dioxide to guide resuscitation termination in prolonged out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Study objectiveTo evaluate if the change in end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) over time has improved discriminatory value for determining resuscitation futility compared to a single ETCO2 value in prolonged, refractory non-shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). MethodsThis is a retrospective analysis of adult refractory non-shockable, non-traumatic OHCA patients in the Portland Cardiac Arrest Epidemiologic Registry (PDX Epistry) from 2018 to 2021. We defined refractory non-shockable OHCA cases as patients with lack of a shockable rhythm at any time or return of spontaneous circulation at any time prior to 30-min of on-scene resuscitation. We abstracted ETCO2 values first recorded after advanced airway placement and nearest to the 30-min mark of on-scene resuscitation (30 min-ETCO2) from EMS charts. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. We compared 30 min-ETCO2 cutoffs of 10 mmHg and 20 mmHg to the trend (increasing or not) from initial to 30 min-ETCO2 (delta-ETCO2) using sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating curves (AUROC). ResultsOf 3837 adult OHCA, 2850 were initially non-shockable, and there were 617 (16.1%) cases of refractory non-shockable OHCA at 30-min. We excluded 320 cases without at least two ETCO2 recordings in the EMS chart, leaving 297 cases that met inclusion criteria. Of these, 176 (59.3%) were transported and 2 (0.7%) survived to discharge. Using absolute 30 min-ETCO2 cutoffs, both survivors were in the >10 mmHg group (sensitivity 100.0%, specificity 12.5%), whereas only one survivor was identified in the >20 mmHg group (sensitivity 50.0%, specificity 32.5%). Using delta-ETCO2, both survivors were in the increasing ETCO2 group (sensitivity 100.0%, specificity 60.7%). In comparing the two tests that did not misclassify survivors, the AUROC [95% CI] was higher when using delta-ETCO2 (0.803 [0.775–0.831]) compared to an absolute cutoff of 10 mmHg (0.563 [0.544–0.582]). ConclusionsNearly one-sixth of EMS-treated adult OHCA patients had refractory non-shockable arrests after at least 30 min of ongoing resuscitation. In this group, the ETCO2 trend following advanced airway placement may be more accurate in guiding termination of resuscitation than an absolute ETCO2 cutoff of 10 or 20 mmHg.

Continuous Synthesis of Carbamates from CO2 and Amines.

We present a novel approach for the continuous preparation of carbamates. The simple yet fast synthetic route relies on directly utilizing carbon dioxide and, in contrast with the literature-known methods, only employs 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene as an additive. The applicable amines' diversity offers considerable flexibility to the synthetic protocol. Additionally, the continuous method's applicability significantly decreases the reaction time typically required for CO2-based carbamate synthesis and allows for straightforward and precise gas introduction. The mild reaction conditions and omission of the need for column chromatography render the process less time-demanding and environmentally more benign, providing the desired compounds in yields of 45 to 92%. Moreover, the modified procedure can potentially be applied in the selective synthesis of oxazolidinones from aziridines.

Transport and Energetics of Carbon Dioxide in Ionic Liquids at Aqueous Interfaces.

A major hurdle in utilizing carbon dioxide (CO2) lies in separating it from industrial flue gas mixtures and finding suitable storage methods that enable its application in various industries. To address this issue, we utilized a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and experiments to investigate the behavior of CO2 in common room-temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) when in contact with aqueous interfaces. Our investigation of RTILs, [EMIM][TFSI] and [OMIM][TFSI], and their interaction with a pure water layer mimics the environment of a previously developed ultrathin enzymatic liquid membrane for CO2 separation. We analyzed diffusion constants and viscosity, which reveals that CO2 molecules exhibit faster mobility within the selected ILs compared to what would be predicted solely based on the viscosity of the liquids using the standard Einstein-Stokes relation. Moreover, we calculated the free energy of translocation for various species across the aqueous-IL interface, including CO2 and HCO3-. Free energy profiles demonstrate that CO2 exhibits a more favorable partitioning behavior in the RTILs compared to that in pure water, while a significant barrier hinders the movement of HCO3- from the aqueous layer. Experimental measurement of the CO2 transport in the RTILs corroborates the model. These findings strongly suggest that hydrophobic RTILs could serve as a promising option for selectively transporting CO2 from aqueous media and concentrating it as a preliminary step toward storage.

Valorization of marine by-products using green technology

In this work, two cases of marine by-product valorization using green technologies were highlighted, i.e., utilization of high-pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD) for demineralization of goldstripe sardinella (Sardinella gibbosa) scales and the use of non-specific enzymes for chitosan hydrolysis. After demineralization, type I collagen can be recovered from sardine scales. This work used HPCD process (of up to 10 bar or 1 MPa) to remove minerals from scales instead of the traditional strong acid method. Results from initial phase of the work showed that the process efficiency was significantly affected by pressure applied and treatment time (p < 0.05). And the demineralization efficiency reached was significantly lower than that achieved by treatment with hydrochloric acid (p < 0.05). In the second study, the chitosanolytic activity of four non-specific enzymes were assessed for chitosan hydrolysis. The results indicated that acid protease and cellulase could be a potential choice to produce chitooligosaccharides (COS) from shrimp shell.

Sr Promoted Ni/W-Zr Catalysts for Highly Efficient CO2 Methanation: Unveiling the Role of Surface Basicity.

This study explores the employment of CO2 methanation for carbon dioxide utilization and global warming mitigation. For the first time, in this work, we combine the interesting properties of the WO3-ZrO2 support and the benefits of Sr to improve the performance of Ni-based catalysts in this reaction. Sr loading on 5Ni/W-Zr samples is increased to 3 wt %, resulting in improved surface basicity through strong basic site formation. After 300 min, the 5Ni + 3Sr/W-Zr catalyst exhibits high activity and stability, achieving 90% CO2 conversion and 82% CH4 yield compared to 62 and 57% on 5Ni/W-Zr. Limited sintering and absence of carbon deposits are confirmed by temperature-programmed oxidation, XRD, Raman, and TEM analyses at 350 °C for 300 min. Sr promotion creates additional CO2 adsorption and conversion sites, enhancing the catalytic performance.

A critical review of current conversion facilities and research output on carbon dioxide utilization

A critical review of current conversion facilities and research output on carbon dioxide utilization

Performance optimization of solid oxide electrolysis cell for syngas production by high temperature co-electrolysis via differential evolution algorithm with practical constraints

Co-electrolysis of water and carbon dioxide using solid oxide electrolysis cell combined with the catalytic reactor to produce renewable synthesis fuel is considered as a promising strategy for carbon dioxide utilization. However, in order to achieve a target product with a remarkable system-level efficiency, a certain proportion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen from solid oxide electrolysis cell must be sent to the catalytic reactor directly, which imposes practical constraints on the solid oxide electrolysis cell performance. Take this constraint into consideration, we proposed a performance design methodology that enables a rapid and effective optimization of the solid oxide electrolysis cell operating conditions. Firstly, a physical model is developed by integrating chemical equilibrium, electrochemistry, and energy conservation involved in the solid oxide electrolysis cell. Secondly, a physical model is utilized to generate a dataset for the development of neural network model and optimization algorithm. This approach allows for the efficient determination of optimal conditions while considering practical constraints. In the case study, under the constraint that the desired fuel is a long carbon chain fuel with a carbon dioxide conversion rate ranging from 80 % to 90 %, the highest efficiency achieved by the solid oxide electrolysis cell is optimized to 66.75 %. Moreover, this approach is extended to other two target fuels (dimethyl ether and methane) under different carbon dioxide conversion rate, and the optimal performance is designed. According to the results, there is a trade-off between high efficiency and high carbon dioxide conversion rate, as the low carbon dioxide conversion rate often leads to higher efficiency. This method allows for flexible design of operating conditions to meet different fuel requirements and guide practical applications.

Development of dual strain microalgae cultivation system for the direct carbon dioxide utilization of power plant flue gas

This study aims to propose a biological system that allows for direct utilization of flue gas for carbon dioxide capture and utilization by microalgae. The strain Chlorella sp. ABC-001 is employed for its high growth rate as well as lipid and carbohydrate content. Toxicity tests showed that cell growth was unaffected by NO, but the presence of SO2 showed critical damage on cell growth. Hence, an extremophile alga, Galdieria sulphuraria 5587.1 was applied to build a dual-strain cultivation system to mitigate the effect of SO2 toxicity and increase CO2 capture efficiency. All SO2 was removed by Galdieria culture and the system exhibited stable growth from a simulated flue gas stream containing CO2, NO and SO2. Combined CO2 biofixation rate of 793 mg/L/d and lipid productivity of 113 mg/L/d was achieved. The results showed that this new cultivation system is a promising alternative for reducing CO2 emissions from power plants.

A Study on the Potential of Carbon Dioxide Utilization Through its Co‐Injection with Hydrogen into the Blast Furnace Tuyeres

The potential of CO2 utilization through its injection into blast furnace (BF) tuyeres is studied using the 1D steady‐state zonal model. Scenarios with the injection of CO2, hydrogen, and their co‐injection at various H2/CO2 mass ratios are analyzed. The impacts on factors affecting vertical temperature patterns and the position of the cohesive zone in the BF are identified. A life cycle assessment for several scenarios with various carbon emissions intensities of hydrogen production, carbon capture, and grid electricity generation is performed. Injection of CO2 without the addition of hydrogen increases the coke rate, reduces productivity, and increases direct CO2 emissions; however, thanks to producing top gas with higher calorific value, injection of CO2 may reduce the global warming potential (GWP) if the electric grid carbon intensity is above 654 kg‐CO2 kWh−1, while carbon capture is powered by green electricity. Although the injection of hydrogen alone would result in a more substantial reduction of GWP from the baseline than the injection of H2/CO2 mix at any mass ratio, considering the identified impacts on heat exchange and the position of the cohesive zone in the BF, co‐injection might be an enabling solution for the adoption of hydrogen injection.

Recent Advances in the Reverse Water-Gas Conversion Reaction.

The increase in carbon dioxide emissions has significantly impacted human society and the global environment. As carbon dioxide is the most abundant and cheap C1 resource, the conversion and utilization of carbon dioxide have received extensive attention from researchers. Among the many carbon dioxide conversion and utilization methods, the reverse water-gas conversion (RWGS) reaction is considered one of the most effective. This review discusses the research progress made in RWGS with various heterogeneous metal catalyst types, covering topics such as catalyst performance, thermodynamic analysis, kinetics and reaction mechanisms, and catalyst design and preparation, and suggests future research on RWGS heterogeneous catalysts.

Snap-Off during Imbibition in Porous Media: Mechanisms, Influencing Factors, and Impacts

The phenomenon of snap-off during imbibition in porous media, a fundamental two-phase fluid flow phenomenon, plays a crucial role in both crude oil production and carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization and storage. In porous media where two phases coexist, the instability of the phase interface may give rise to various displacement phenomena, including pore–body filling, piston-like displacement, and snap-off. Snap-off, characterized by the generation of discrete liquid droplets or gas bubbles, assumes paramount significance. This study provides a comprehensive overview of snap-off mechanisms, influencing factors, and impacts. Snap-off initiation arises from variations in the curvature radius at the interface between two phases within narrow regions, primarily influenced by capillary pressure. It can be influenced by factors such as the characteristics of multiphase fluids, the wettability of porous media, as well as the pore–throat geometry and topology within porous media. In turn, snap-off exerts a discernible influence on the fluid dynamics within the porous medium, resulting in impacts that encompass unrecoverable oil droplet formation, the oil bridging effect, drainage–imbibition hysteresis, strong foam generation and transient/dynamic effects. Although the snap-off phenomenon exerts detrimental effects during the conventional waterflooding in oil production, its potential is harnessed for beneficial outcomes in CO2-EOR and CO2 storage. This study significantly advances our understanding of snap-off and its multifaceted roles in multiphase fluid dynamics, offering vital insights for the precise prediction of fluid flow behavior and strategic control. These valuable insights can serve as a theoretical foundation to guide our deliberate modulation of snap-off phenomena, aiming at optimizing oil-recovery processes and enhancing the safety and stability of CO2 storage.

CO2 Mineralized Sequestration and Assistance by Microorganisms in Reservoirs: Development and Outlook

The goals of carbon neutrality and peak carbon have officially been proposed; consequently, carbon dioxide utilization and sequestration technology are now in the limelight. Injecting carbon dioxide into reservoirs and solidifying and sequestering it in the form of carbonates after a series of geochemical reactions not only reduces carbon emissions but also prevents carbon dioxide from leaking out of the formation. Carbon dioxide mineralization sequestration, which has good stability, has been considered the best choice for large-scale underground CO2 sequestration. To provide a comprehensive exploration of the research and prospective advancements in CO2 mineralization sequestration within Chinese oil and gas reservoirs, this paper undertakes a thorough review of the mechanisms involved in CO2 mineralization and sequestration. Special attention is given to the advancing front of carbon dioxide mineralization, which is driven by microbial metabolic activities and the presence of carbonic anhydrase within oil and gas reservoirs. The paper presents an in-depth analysis of the catalytic mechanisms, site locations, and structural attributes of carbonic anhydrase that are crucial to the mineralization processes of carbon dioxide. Particular emphasis is placed on delineating the pivotal role of this enzyme in the catalysis of carbon dioxide hydration and the promotion of carbonate mineralization and, ultimately, in the facilitation of efficient, stable sequestration.

Evaluation of a novel coupling process for the simultaneous production of syngas and ultra-pure hydrogen from natural gas with in situ utilization of carbon dioxide

Recently, with the aim of developing clean and efficient energy systems, various designs based on chemical looping combustion and reforming have been suggested. This study proposed and investigated the production of ultra-pure hydrogen in dual-purpose integrated zero-emission reforming (UPH2-DPIZER) process based on the sorption-enhanced chemical looping steam methane reforming (SECLSMR). This process is proposed on the basis of reduction in the emissions of carbon dioxide as well as the simultaneous generation of pure hydrogen and syngas for use in a wide range of applications. One of the most novel aspects of this research is that the proposed UPH2-DPIZER process can reduce or eliminate carbon dioxide emissions because all the produced and chemisorbed CO2 can be applied directly in the reforming process without any additional purification. Furthermore, the synthesized 30 wt%NiO-5wt.%CeO2/Al2O3 oxygen carrier was examined using the X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques along with evaluation in SECLSMR process. The attained results of experimental tests are applied to adapt and validate the simulations of novel proposed process. The other objectives of this study are the reduction in required energy for the whole process along with reduction in the direct consumption of fossil fuels. The experiments showed high H2/CO molar ratio of 36 at 550 °C with appropriate methane conversion of about 74 %, while at 750 °C, nearly a complete conversion of CH4 occurs. The obtained results from the simulation of proposed UPH2-DPIZER showed the production of ultra-pure hydrogen along with syngas with H2/CO molar ratio of about 1 with negligible CO2 release.

Unraveling Temperature-Dependent Plasma-Catalyzed CO2 Hydrogenation.

Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to value-added chemicals and fuels has recently gained increasing attention as a promising route for utilizing carbon dioxide to achieve a sustainable society. In this study, we investigated the hydrogenation of CO2 over M/SiO2 and M/Al2O3 (M = Co, Ni) catalysts in a dielectric barrier discharge system at different temperatures. We compared three different reaction modes: plasma alone, thermal catalysis, and plasma catalysis. The coupling of catalysts with plasma demonstrated synergy at different reaction temperatures, surpassing the thermal catalysis and plasma alone modes. The highest CO2 conversions under plasma-catalytic conditions at reaction temperatures of 350 and 500 °C were achieved with a Co/SiO2 catalyst (66%) and a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst (68%), respectively. Extensive characterizations were used to analyze the physiochemical characteristics of the catalysts. The results show that plasma power was more efficient than heating power at the same temperature for the CO2 hydrogenation. This demonstrates that the performance of CO2 hydrogenation can be significantly improved in the presence of plasma at lower temperatures.

Investigating the role of promoters (Ga, Nb, La, and Mg) on In2O3-based catalysts: Advancing on CO2 hydrogenation to C5+ hydrocarbons

Utilizing carbon dioxide (CO2) as a sustainable feedstock for producing chemicals and renewable fuels is of paramount importance, particularly in the face of intricate climate changes. However, despite significant CO2 hydrogenation advancements to different C1 chemicals, synthesizing value-added products with more carbons remains challenging due to the extreme inertness of CO2 and the high C–C coupling barrier. Thus, herein, we introduce a series of In2O3-promoted catalysts with different basicities (Ga/In2O3, Nb/In2O3, La/In2O3, and Mg/In2O3) to evaluate their role in the production of methanol that was used as an intermediate for the production of gasoline-range hydrocarbons after going through an HZSM-5 zeolite bed. While oxygen vacancies on the catalysts' surfaces are undoubtedly crucial, we have observed that the basicity of the promoters plays a significant role in their effectiveness. Interestingly, there seems to be a threshold regarding this matter, meaning that the promoter must possess an intermediate level of basicity. However, CO2 adsorption becomes excessively strong when the promoter is too basic, favoring the undesired reverse-water gas shift (RWGS) reaction and CH4 formation with acid counterparts. Our findings showed that the Ga-promoted In2O3 catalyst with intermediate basicity balances activity and selectivity, resulting in a higher yield of hydrocarbons. The observed outcome highlights the significant role of catalyst component interactions in suppressing undesirable reactions and improving overall performance. The Ga-promoted catalyst exhibited higher selectivity for hydrocarbons, averaging 61%, compared to In2O3, which achieved a selectivity of 54%.

Cement sheath integrity at simulated reservoir conditions of pressure, temperature, and wellbore configuration in a laboratory setup

Cement is fundamental to maintaining integrity throughout the life of a well by preventing leakage of fluids. Cement is thus crucial in oil and natural gas producing wells as well as in wells used for storage and utilization of carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Even if the cement slurry has been properly placed, changes in downhole reservoir conditions can induce thermal and mechanical stresses to harm the integrity of the cement sheath.This work presents a novel apparatus to analyze the cement sheath performance at simulated reservoir conditions of pressure, temperature, and wellbore configuration. One of the major features demonstrated is three-dimensional (3D) monitoring of in-situ dynamic changes in cement using acoustic data. 3D density profiles allow visual observance of the evolution of possible settling over the cement curing process. A first arrival pick time decrease of 26.6% is observed over a 15-h curing time. Confinement improves the strength of cement as seen by decrease in travel time (10.8%) and increase of amplitude (32%) with 15 MPa confining pressure increase. Temperature increase of 66.4 °C has damaging effects on the strength of cement as seen by increase (11.9%) in travel time and decrease (20.5%) in amplitude. An increase in cement shear bond strength from 13% to 89.7% with longer curing time is measured using this device.