carboncapture

Carbon capture refers to a range of technologies that aim to prevent carbon dioxide (CO2) from entering the atmosphere. These technologies typically involve capturing CO2 emissions at their source, such as power plants or industrial facilities, or directly from the atmosphere. Once captured, the CO2 can then be transported and stored in underground geological formations or utilized in various applications.

There are several methods for capturing CO2. Pre-combustion capture involves converting fuel into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide before combustion, with the CO2 then separated. Post-combustion capture is applied after fuel has been burned, typically using chemical solvents to absorb the CO2 from flue gases. Oxy-fuel combustion burns fuel in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere, producing a flue gas with a higher concentration of CO2, making separation easier. Direct air capture (DAC) technologies are designed to remove CO2 already present in the ambient air, which is a more challenging process due to the lower concentration of CO2.

After capture, the CO2 is usually compressed into a liquid or supercritical fluid for transportation via pipelines or ships. The most common storage method is geological sequestration, where CO2 is injected into deep underground rock formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers. Alternatively, captured CO2 can be used for enhanced oil recovery, in the production of chemicals or fuels, or for creating building materials. Carbon capture is considered a potential tool for mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.