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.