Large Scale Utilization of Carbon Dioxide: From Its Reaction with Energy Rich Chemicals to (Co)-processing with Water to

This chapter makes the analysis of the possible routes for large scale CO2 utilization (CCU). Processes that convert CO2 into chemicals, materials and fuels are discussed, as they are part of the strategy for reducing the CO2 emission into the atmosphere.

  • PDF / 1,099,396 Bytes
  • 33 Pages / 439.37 x 666.142 pts Page_size
  • 7 Downloads / 205 Views

DOWNLOAD

REPORT


Large Scale Utilization of Carbon Dioxide: From Its Reaction with Energy Rich Chemicals to (Co)-processing with Water to Afford Energy Rich Products. Opportunities and Barriers Michele Aresta and Francesco Nocito

Abstract

This chapter makes the analysis of the possible routes for large scale CO2 utilization (CCU). Processes that convert CO2 into chemicals, materials and fuels are discussed, as they are part of the strategy for reducing the CO2 emission into the atmosphere. Technical uses of CO2, which do not imply its chemical conversion, are discussed in Chap. 3, while mineralization and carbonation reactions for the production of inorganic materials are treated in Chap. 4. Here, the catalytic synthesis of organic products with a market close to, or higher than, 1 Mt/year is discussed, presenting the state of the art and barriers to full exploitation. Minor applications are summarized, without a detailed analysis as their contribution to CO2 reduction is low, even if they can favour the development of a sustainable chemical industry with reduction of the environmental impact. Energy products (C1 and Cn molecules) are discussed for some peculiar aspects in this chapter, as their catalytic production will be extensively presented in following chapters where the potential of using CO2 and water as source of fuels is analysed for its many possible applications setting actual limits and future perspectives. A comparison of Carbon Capture and Storage-CCS and CCU is made, highlighting the pros and cons of each technology.

M. Aresta (&) IC2R srl, Lab H124, Tecnopolis, via Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy e-mail: [email protected] F. Nocito Department of Chemistry and CIRCC, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 M. Aresta et al. (eds.), An Economy Based on Carbon Dioxide and Water, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15868-2_1

1

2

1.1

M. Aresta and F. Nocito

Introduction

The capture of CO2 from power plants and industrial processes is a way to avoid that it enters the atmosphere, as announced in the Preface. The concentration of CO2 in flue gases from power stations, that represent the largest point-source, averages 14%: it can be lower, depending on the quality of the fuel used. Industrial processes, as detailed in the Preface, emit CO2 at concentrations that can reach 90%+ in fermentation units. CO2 can also be recovered directly from the atmosphere, the most abundant source of carbon dioxide on our planet and the most diluted (408 ppm, [1]). Technical aspects of capture of CO2 from the various sources are discussed in Chap. 2. Once captured, CO2 can be either disposed or used. Disposal of CO2 is not discussed in this book: only a brief comparison with the utilization option is made, highlighting pros and cons of both. In this chapter, an analysis of the various options of CO2 conversion is made, highlighting the potential of such technology to reduce the atmospheric level of CO2. Various categories of reactions are presented, according to their energetic conten