Carbon Dioxide Capture, Separation and Storage Technologies

As the world’s energy demand increased with the increase in the population, the use of conventional energy sources increased leading to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Over the decade the CO₂ ratio has increased in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities, to lower the atmospheric CO₂. International Energy Agency (IEA), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), have jointly reported that we need to decrease CO₂ emissions. According to the International Energy Agency, carbon capture technology can minimize global CO₂ emissions by 17% by 2050. CO₂ capture technology is most feasible technology to reduce atmospheric CO₂. The three main CO₂ collection methods used for CCS are oxy-fuel combustion, pre-combustion, and post-combustion. Industries typically use post-combustion carbon capture to absorb CO₂. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in oil and gas reservoirs, storage in impermeable coal beds, storage in saline aquifers, and deep ocean storage are the four main storage methods used in CO₂ capture. It was determined that using CO₂ storage with enhanced oil recovery applications concurrently increases oil production and stores CO₂. There are several techniques used to separate CO₂, but some important ones include adsorption, absorption, chemical separations, membrane separations, hydrate-based separation, and cryogenic distillation. Future research should take into account the need for scientific study on selective membrane applications in CO₂ separation, Natural Gas Hydrates as a CO₂ storage facility, and bio-additives for the creation of CO₂ hydrates.