Work

Techno-economic and life cycle environmental assessments of CO2 utilization for value-added precipitated calcium carbonate and ammonium sulfate fertilizer co-production

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: An advanced CO 2 mineralization technology using Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) byproduct gypsum, which coproduces value-added precipitated calcium carbonate (precipitated CaCO 3 , PCC) and ammonium sulfate [(NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , AS] fertilizer, is being developed to address the technical challenges of achieving simultaneous CO 2 capture and utilization, high CO 2 and calcium conversion, and enhanced energy efficiency. This study aimed to conduct a techno-economic analysis (TEA) and a life cycle assessment (LCA) for this technology. In the TEA, mass and energy balances for CO 2 mineralization integrated with a power plant to utilize all FGD gypsum and approximately 51,000 tonne/year of CO 2 in flue gas were developed through modeling. Major equipment was selected and sized, followed by capital and operating cost analyses. Energy efficiency was improved through the integrated use of both low-grade steam and vacuum from the power plant steam cycle. TEA results revealed that this process was profitable, with a levelized net profit of $328.4 per tonne of CO 2 utilized. The LCA was performed as a cradle-to-gate study for comparative assessments of global warming potential (GWP) and other environmental impacts between the CO 2 mineralization system (i.e., Proposed Production System or PPS) and the conventional processes (i.e., Comparison Production System or CPS). The PPS resulted in a GWP impact of 0.85 kg CO 2 -Eq per 1 kg of primary PCC production and 1.32 kg of byproduct AS production, approximately 64 % lower than that of the CPS . The LCA results for other environmental impacts also consistently showed impacts 35–88 % lower for the PPS compared to the CPS.

Source: Journal of CO2 Utilization

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2024.102992

Authors: Feyza Kazanç, Peng Zhang, Partha Saha, Yongqi Lu

Institution: Illinois Archaeological Survey

Language: English

Topic: Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,900