CO2avskiljning

CO2avskiljning, also known as carbon dioxide capture, refers to a range of technologies designed to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial emissions or directly from the atmosphere. The captured CO2 can then be stored or utilized. This process is a key component in strategies aimed at mitigating climate change by reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

There are three main approaches to CO2avskiljning. Post-combustion capture involves separating CO2 from the flue gases produced by burning fossil fuels after the combustion process. Pre-combustion capture removes CO2 from fuel before it is burned, typically by converting the fuel into a mixture of hydrogen and CO2. Finally, oxy-fuel combustion burns fuel in pure oxygen instead of air, resulting in a flue gas that is primarily CO2 and water, making separation easier. Direct air capture (DAC) technologies aim to extract CO2 directly from the ambient air, a more challenging but potentially more impactful method for overall atmospheric reduction.

Once captured, the CO2 can be transported, often via pipelines, for storage or utilization. Geological storage, also known as carbon sequestration, involves injecting CO2 deep underground into porous rock formations. CO2 utilization, or carbon capture and utilization (CCU), encompasses a variety of applications, such as using CO2 in the production of fuels, chemicals, building materials, or for enhanced oil recovery. The economic viability and scalability of CO2avskiljning technologies are ongoing areas of research and development.