6
Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emission
into the Atmosphere: The Capture
and Storage (CCS) Option
Abstract
The Capture and Storage of Carbon Dioxide (CCS) is illustrated in this chapter.
CO 2 can be captured from point sources (power plants and industries) or directly
from the atmosphere (Direct Air Capture (DAC)) or even from mobile sources.
Technologies for the capture are illustrated here and some examples of disposal
in natural fields are described, together with fixation into long-lasting materials,
such as inorganic carbonates.
6.1 The Capture of CO 2
Besides the efficiency strategies in using fossil-C and the use of biomass that reduce
the formation of CO 2 , and the alternative C-free energy sources that avoid the
formation of CO 2 , scientists and technologists are working at the development of
“end-of-pipe” technologies, which means at technologies which prevent the accumulation of CO 2 in the atmosphere. These are the technologies that “capture CO 2 ,”
either before it reaches the atmosphere or even directly from the atmosphere. Once
CO 2 is captured, it can be either disposed or used. These alternative aspects will be
discussed in this and following chapters: they represent two faces of a medal and
are relevant to two different economic views. Disposal of CO 2 is functional to a
linear economy, while the utilization of CO 2 is at the core of C-cyclic economy.
These are two different philosophies of life and use of resources.
Disposal demands energy for transportation and housing of CO 2 , causing a
penalization on the produced electric energy and, thus, an extra extraction of
fossil-C in order to not reduce the available energy: the effect is shortening the
availability of fossil-C. Conversion of CO 2 , instead, recycles carbon, using it for
making chemicals, materials, and fuels; finally, fossil reserves are less used and
their availability for future generations is guaranteed. Moreover, CCS is a net cost,
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Aresta and A. Dibenedetto, The Carbon Dioxide Revolution,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59061-1_6
73
Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emission
into the Atmosphere: The Capture
and Storage (CCS) Option
Abstract
The Capture and Storage of Carbon Dioxide (CCS) is illustrated in this chapter.
CO 2 can be captured from point sources (power plants and industries) or directly
from the atmosphere (Direct Air Capture (DAC)) or even from mobile sources.
Technologies for the capture are illustrated here and some examples of disposal
in natural fields are described, together with fixation into long-lasting materials,
such as inorganic carbonates.
6.1 The Capture of CO 2
Besides the efficiency strategies in using fossil-C and the use of biomass that reduce
the formation of CO 2 , and the alternative C-free energy sources that avoid the
formation of CO 2 , scientists and technologists are working at the development of
“end-of-pipe” technologies, which means at technologies which prevent the accumulation of CO 2 in the atmosphere. These are the technologies that “capture CO 2 ,”
either before it reaches the atmosphere or even directly from the atmosphere. Once
CO 2 is captured, it can be either disposed or used. These alternative aspects will be
discussed in this and following chapters: they represent two faces of a medal and
are relevant to two different economic views. Disposal of CO 2 is functional to a
linear economy, while the utilization of CO 2 is at the core of C-cyclic economy.
These are two different philosophies of life and use of resources.
Disposal demands energy for transportation and housing of CO 2 , causing a
penalization on the produced electric energy and, thus, an extra extraction of
fossil-C in order to not reduce the available energy: the effect is shortening the
availability of fossil-C. Conversion of CO 2 , instead, recycles carbon, using it for
making chemicals, materials, and fuels; finally, fossil reserves are less used and
their availability for future generations is guaranteed. Moreover, CCS is a net cost,
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Aresta and A. Dibenedetto, The Carbon Dioxide Revolution,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59061-1_6
73