The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is linked to climate changes; hence there is an urgent need to reduce the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. The utilization of CO2 as a raw material in the synthesis of chemicals and liquid energy carriers offers a way to mitigate the increasing CO2 buildup. This review covers six important CO2 transformations namely: chemical transformations, photochemical reductions, chemical and electrochemical reductions, biological conversions, reforming and inorganic transformations. Furthermore, the vast research area of carbon capture and storage is reviewed briefly. This review is intended as an introduction to CO2, its synthetic reactions and their possible role in future CO2 mitigation schemes that has to match the scale of man-made CO2 in the atmosphere, which rapidly approaches 1 teraton.

The teraton challenge. A review of fixation and transformation of carbon dioxide

In recent years, Carbon Capture and Storage (Sequestration) (CCS) has been proposed as a potential method to allow the continued use of fossil-fuelled power stations whilst preventing emissions of CO2 from reaching the atmosphere. Gas, coal (and biomass)-fired power stations can respond to changes in demand more readily than many other sources of electricity production, hence the importance of retaining them as an option in the energy mix. Here, we review the leading CO2 capture technologies, available in the short and long term, and their technological maturity, before discussing CO2 transport and storage. Current pilot plants and demonstrations are highlighted, as is the importance of optimising the CCS system as a whole. Other topics briefly discussed include the viability of both the capture of CO2 from the air and CO2 reutilisation as climate change mitigation strategies. Finally, we discuss the economic and legal aspects of CCS.

Carbon capture and storage update

Beyond Oil and Gas: The Methanol Economy

Climate change and fossil fuel depletion are the main reasons leading to hydrogen technology. There are many processes for hydrogen production from both conventional and alternative energy resources such as natural gas, coal, nuclear, biomass, solar and wind. In this work, a comparative overview of the major hydrogen production methods is carried out. The process descriptions along with the technical and economic aspects of 14 different production methods are discussed. An overall comparison is carried out, and the results regarding both the conventional and renewable methods are presented. The thermochemical pyrolysis and gasification are economically viable approaches providing the highest potential to become competitive on a large scale in the near future while conventional methods retain their dominant role in H2 production with costs in the range of 1.34–2.27 $/kg. Biological methods appear to be a promising pathway but further research studies are needed to improve their production rates, while the low conversion efficiencies in combination with the high investment costs are the key restrictions for water-splitting technologies to compete with conventional methods. However, further development of these technologies along with significant innovations concerning H2 storage, transportation and utilization, implies the decrease of the national dependence on fossil fuel imports and green hydrogen will dominate over the traditional energy resources.

A comparative overview of hydrogen production processes

Progress and recent trends in biofuels

The Carnol process for CO2 mitigation from power plants and the transportation sector

An advantage of using an absorption-stripping system over charcoal adsorption is that the noble gas can be removed almost completely in a coatinuous operation at ambieat temperatures. A difficulty with the Amsco absorption- stripping method is that relatively large volumes of organic have to be handled when operating at atmospheric pressure. The absorption-stripping system could be advantageously used where an inexpensive head end'' or primary bulk separation of gaseous activity is required, either for storage until safe disposal to the atmosphere is allowable, or for further processing for complete enrichment or purification of xenon and krypton. Other possibilities include the processing of homogeneous reactor purge gas streams, where a suitable carrier gas, such as helium, can be chosen to allow an increased single-stage concentration factor. This could also be used in processing gas streams from pyrometallurgical processing plants, where there is freedom in the choice of a vehicle gas in purging the gaseous fission products.

Recovery of Fission Product Noble Gases

Synthetic carbonaceous fuel and feedstock using nuclear power, air and water

A process for the hydrogenation of coal comprising the contacting of powdered coal with hydrogen in a rotating fluidized bed reactor. A rotating fluidized bed reactor suitable for use in this process is also disclosed. The coal residence time in the reactor is limited to less than 5 seconds while the hydrogen contact time is not in excess of 0.2 seconds.

Flash hydrogenation of coal

In a fluidized-bed combustor the evolving sulfur oxides are reacted with CaO to form calcium sulfate which is then decomposed in the presence of carbonaceous material, such as the fly ash recovered from the combustion, at temperatures of about 900° to 1000° C., to regenerate lime. The regenerated lime is then recycled to the fluidized bed combustor to further react with the evolving sulfur oxides. The lime regenerated in this manner is quite effective in removing the sulfur oxides.

Meyer Steinberg

Papers

The Carnol process for CO2 mitigation from power plants and the transportation sector

Recovery of Fission Product Noble Gases

Synthetic carbonaceous fuel and feedstock using nuclear power, air and water

Flash hydrogenation of coal

Regeneration of lime from sulfates for fluidized-bed combustion