Assessing the Relative Climate Impact of Carbon Utilization for Concrete, Chemical, and Mineral Production

A tutorial on the modeling of the heterogenous captured CO2 electroreduction reaction and first principles electrochemical modeling

As the energy demands of the world continue to grow, the electroreduction of captured CO2 (c-CO2RR) is an appealing alternative to the traditional CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) as it does not include the energetically unfavorable release of CO2 from the capture agent. In this tutorial we cover the motivation behind the c-CO2RR and CO2RR, their respective mechanisms, and computational tools that have been used to model these reactions and to compare their reactivities. Emphasis is given to methods that have already been used to model the c-CO2RR but a comparison to the methods used to explore the more understood CO2RR is covered as well.

Multi-criteria evaluation of carbon capture technologies in steel, cement, petrochemical, and fertilizer industries: Insights for emerging and developed countries

This research addresses the global imperative to tackle climate change by evaluating different carbon capture technologies based on various criteria in hard-to-electrify sectors such as steel, cement, petrochemicals, and fertilizers, providing practical insights for policymakers engaged in the shift toward low-carbon industrial processes. The study employs a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach, specifically the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), using a systematic and objective evaluation process, integrating rigorous pairwise comparisons using the Saaty scale through logical reasoning, along with eigenvalue calculations, resulting in a criteria and strategy ranking. In evaluating carbon capture technologies for heavy industry, external support (regulatory adherence, global collaboration, and financial incentives) is crucial for technology evaluation, which carries the highest weight (21.3 %). Technology maturity and reliability follow closely (17.4 %), emphasizing the importance of proven track records. Carbon capture efficiency and environmental and health impacts share a relatively high weight (13.7 %). Scalability and integration with existing infrastructure carry moderate weights (7.8 %). Energy requirements are less critical (6.7 %), while the cost-effectiveness criterion has a relatively low weight (3.9 %). Duration of operation and public acceptance and social impact also carry low weights (3.9 %), creating a balanced evaluation considering both technical and socio-economic factors. Post-combustion capture excels with a high score, making it suitable for emission reduction in hard-to-abate industries. Pre-combustion capture and oxy-fuel combustion have moderate scores, indicating balanced performance. Direct Air Capture faces challenges, resulting in a lower score, while carbon mineralization and biomass co-firing with carbon capture receive the lowest scores, suggesting potential limitations. We discuss the impact of climate change on carbon capture technologies, the influence of critical materials, the practical implications for Moroccan industries such as Lafarge Holcim (cement), OCP (phosphate mining and petrochemical processing), and Sonasid (steel), as well as for emerging and industrialized economies, including hydrogen, ammonia, and kerosene production from fossil fuels.

Models for Decarbonization in the Chemical Industry

Various technologies and strategies have been proposed to decarbonize the chemical industry. Assessing the decarbonization, environmental, and economic implications of these technologies and strategies is critical to identifying pathways to a more sustainable industrial future. This study reviews recent advancements and integration of systems analysis models, including process analysis, material flow analysis, life cycle assessment, techno-economic analysis, and machine learning. These models are categorized based on analytical methods and application scales (i.e., micro-, meso-, and macroscale) for promising decarbonization technologies (e.g., carbon capture, storage, and utilization, biomass feedstock, and electrification) and circular economy strategies. Incorporating forward-looking, data-driven approaches into existing models allows for optimizing complex industrial systems and assessing future impacts. Although advances in industrial ecology-, economic-, and planetary boundary-based modeling support a more holistic systems-level assessment, more efforts are needed to consider impacts on ecosystems. Effective applications of these advanced, integrated models require cross-disciplinary collaborations across chemical engineering, industrial ecology, and economics.

Achieving artificial carbon cycle via integrated system of high-emitting industries and CCU technology: Case of China

Process-related carbon emissions, which cannot be completely eliminated by the improvement of processes and energy structure, are recognized as an enormous challenge for in-depth decarbonization. To accelerate the achievement of carbon neutrality, the concept of 'artificial carbon cycle' is proposed based on the integrated system of process-related carbon emissions from high-emitting industries and CCU technology as a potential pathway towards a sustainable future. This paper conducts a systematic review on the integrated system with the case of China, which is the largest carbon-emitting and manufacturing country, to provide a clearer and more meaningful analysis. Multi-index assessment was used to organize the literature and draw the useful conclusion. Based on literature review, the high-quality carbon sources, reasonable carbon capture approaches and promising chemical products were identified and analyzed. Then the potential and practicability of the integrated system was further summarized and analyzed. Finally, key factors of future development including technology improvement, green hydrogen, clean energy and industrial cooperation were stressed to provide a theoretical reference for future researchers and policy makers.

Porous Structure of β-Cyclodextrin for CO2 Capture: Structural Remodeling by Thermal Activation

With a purpose of extending the application of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) for gas adsorption, this paper aims to reveal the pore formation mechanism of a promising adsorbent for CO2 capture which was derived from the structural remodeling of β-CD by thermal activation. The pore structure and performance of the adsorbent were characterized by means of SEM, BET and CO2 adsorption. Then, the thermochemical characteristics during pore formation were systematically investigated by means of TG-DSC, in situ TG-FTIR/FTIR, in situ TG-MS/MS, EDS, XPS and DFT. The results show that the derived adsorbent exhibits an excellent porous structure for CO2 capture accompanied by an adsorption capacity of 4.2 mmol/g at 0 °C and 100 kPa. The porous structure is obtained by the structural remodeling such as dehydration polymerization with the prior locations such as hydroxyl bonded to C6 and ring-opening polymerization with the main locations (C4, C1, C5), accompanied by the release of those small molecules such as H2O, CO2 and C3H4. A large amount of new fine pores is formed at the third and fourth stage of the four-stage activation process. Particularly, more micropores are created at the fourth stage. This revealed that pore formation mechanism is beneficial to structural design of further thermal-treated graft/functionalization polymer derived from β-CD, potentially applicable for gas adsorption such as CO2 capture.

Assessing the Relative Climate Impact of Carbon Utilization for Concrete, Chemical, and Mineral Production

Estimates show that 6.2 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) can be captured and utilized across three pathways, concrete, chemical, and minerals, by 2050. However, it is difficult to compare the climate benefit across these three carbon capture and utilization (CCU) pathways to determine the most effective use of captured CO₂. The life cycle assessment methods to evaluate the climate benefit of CCU chemicals should additionally account for the change in material properties of concrete due to CO₂ utilization. Furthermore, with most CO₂ utilization technologies being in the early stages of research and development, the uncertainty and variability in process and inventory data present a significant challenge in evaluating the climate benefit. We present a stochastically determined climate return on investment (ROI) metric to rank and prioritize CO₂ utilization across 20 concrete, chemical and mineral pathways based on the realized climate benefit. We show that two concrete pathways, which use CO₂ during concrete mixing, and two chemical pathways, which produce formic acid through hydrogenation of CO₂ and carbon monoxide through dry reforming of methane, generate the greatest climate ROI and are the only CCU pathways with a higher likelihood of generating a climate benefit than a climate burden.