The path forward: capitalising on decarbonisation opportunities
Published by Poppy Clements,
Editorial Assistant
Hydrocarbon Engineering,
By implementing CCUS facilities, companies can do more than demonstrate an active commitment to sustainability. They can turn a potential liability into a profitable venture. Since CO2 can support a variety of organic and inorganic reactions and more conversion routes are reaching commercialisation, it is becoming easier for companies to embrace the processing technologies that best address their needs.
Starting from the basics
The starting point of a CCUS technology comprises carbon capture, which can occur at intermediate reactions, when burning fuels with oxygen, or just before releasing waste streams. These are known, respectively, as pre-, oxy-fuel and post-combustion methods, and have all been applied to real-world installations. Post-combustion carbon capture solutions are broadly recognised as the most mature and cost-effective. Therefore, they may be a better fit for refineries and petrochemical plants.
At this stage, companies should consider what type of separation strategy is best suited to extract CO2 from their flue gases. Current technologies include CO2-selective membranes, adsorption and absorption processes. The most widely spread technology is absorption, which uses liquid solvents. These are usually based on aqueous monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, piperazine, or potassium carbonate, to absorb gaseous CO2 through the formation of a chemical bond with the gas once dissolved. The CO2-rich liquid solvent is then heated to release the CO2 gas through a stripping process, thus becoming lean and ready for reuse in subsequent carbon capture cycles. This process owes its popularity to its high separation efficiency, flexibility of scale, and financial performance.
Having identified their carbon capture solutions, refiners should then define what to do with the captured CO2. Generally, it is best to find ways to utilise it, rather than simply sequester it in geological formations, since it can be more profitable and/or support circular practices. Considering the manifold options available when it comes to end products incorporating or originating from CO2, companies should take into account their existing offering, the industries they serve, and where the greatest market opportunities lie.
Deciding what to get out of CCUS systems
One particularly interesting option for hydrocarbon processors may be the incorporation of CCUS technologies that can deliver fuels, such as methanol and higher alcohols, which are already part of the refinery’s output. In addition to reducing emissions, this choice also displaces the extraction of virgin fossil fuels that would otherwise be used.
This article was originally published in the March 2024 issue of Hydrocarbon Engineering magazine. To read the full article, sign in or register for a free subscription.
Written by Dr. Cecilia Mondelli and Stephen Shields, Sulzer Chemtech.
Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/special-reports/21032024/the-path-forward-capitalising-on-decarbonisation-opportunities/
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