The technological uses of CO 2 include all those applications in which CO 2 is
used as fluid (gas and liquid) or solid, is not transformed into another chemical,
maintains its status of triatomic molecule during its application, and at the end is
either vented to the atmosphere or captured and reused. Such uses can be categorized as follows:
• Food Industry (cooling agent, food packaging, antibacterial)
• Additive to beverages
• Extraction of fragrances
• Solvent and processing fluid in the chemical industry
• Dry-cleaning fluid
• Cleaning agent in metal- and electronic-industry
• Fluid in air-conditioners
• Fire extinguisher
• Water treatment (the only case in which CO 2 is converted into HCO 3
− or CO 3
2− )
• Greenhouses and agriculture
• Use as dry ice
• Other uses.
The whole amount of CO 2 used in such operations (and EOR, already discussed
in Chap. 6) is known as the Merchant Market of CO 2 and amounts at ca. 30 MtCO 2
as for 2019.
8.2 Sources of CO 2
So far, the majority, if not all, CO 2 used as technological fluid was extracted from natural
wells at a very low cost (ca. 10–15 US$/t). Such operation aggravates the CO 2
immission into the atmosphere. Therefore, such natural CO 2 is being substituted these
days with CO 2 separated from industrial gas streams and power stations flue gases.
Capture, purification, and liquefaction of carbon dioxide is capital and energy intensive.
The demand of CO 2 is such that it must be continuously available all year long with
seasonal peaks during summer. Often it happens that the market suffers shortage,
especially of high-quality product, due to, for example, seasonal stop of sources
(maintenance of plants). This causes instability of price. However, capture from
industrial emissions is environmentally beneficial, but more costly and can suffer discontinuity, while extraction of CO 2 from natural wells is economically more convenient
and guarantees continuity of delivery, but it produces an environmental burden.
For uses categorized above, the major sources are concentrated streams from
ammonia production, fermentation processes for the production of alcohol, and the
chemical/petrochemical industry (e.g., H 2 production) (Table 8.1) [1]. Power stations are continuous sources, but the concentration (4–15%) of CO 2 and its quality
are rather low. Industrial sources (Table 8.1) are more concentrated (up to 90
+
%)
and of much better quality (NOx and SOy are absent).
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8 Use of CO 2 as Technical Fluid (Technological Uses of CO 2 )
used as fluid (gas and liquid) or solid, is not transformed into another chemical,
maintains its status of triatomic molecule during its application, and at the end is
either vented to the atmosphere or captured and reused. Such uses can be categorized as follows:
• Food Industry (cooling agent, food packaging, antibacterial)
• Additive to beverages
• Extraction of fragrances
• Solvent and processing fluid in the chemical industry
• Dry-cleaning fluid
• Cleaning agent in metal- and electronic-industry
• Fluid in air-conditioners
• Fire extinguisher
• Water treatment (the only case in which CO 2 is converted into HCO 3
− or CO 3
2− )
• Greenhouses and agriculture
• Use as dry ice
• Other uses.
The whole amount of CO 2 used in such operations (and EOR, already discussed
in Chap. 6) is known as the Merchant Market of CO 2 and amounts at ca. 30 MtCO 2
as for 2019.
8.2 Sources of CO 2
So far, the majority, if not all, CO 2 used as technological fluid was extracted from natural
wells at a very low cost (ca. 10–15 US$/t). Such operation aggravates the CO 2
immission into the atmosphere. Therefore, such natural CO 2 is being substituted these
days with CO 2 separated from industrial gas streams and power stations flue gases.
Capture, purification, and liquefaction of carbon dioxide is capital and energy intensive.
The demand of CO 2 is such that it must be continuously available all year long with
seasonal peaks during summer. Often it happens that the market suffers shortage,
especially of high-quality product, due to, for example, seasonal stop of sources
(maintenance of plants). This causes instability of price. However, capture from
industrial emissions is environmentally beneficial, but more costly and can suffer discontinuity, while extraction of CO 2 from natural wells is economically more convenient
and guarantees continuity of delivery, but it produces an environmental burden.
For uses categorized above, the major sources are concentrated streams from
ammonia production, fermentation processes for the production of alcohol, and the
chemical/petrochemical industry (e.g., H 2 production) (Table 8.1) [1]. Power stations are continuous sources, but the concentration (4–15%) of CO 2 and its quality
are rather low. Industrial sources (Table 8.1) are more concentrated (up to 90
+
%)
and of much better quality (NOx and SOy are absent).
124
8 Use of CO 2 as Technical Fluid (Technological Uses of CO 2 )