CARBON CAPTURE AND UTILIZATION
INTRODUCTION :
Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) refers to the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from various sources, followed by converting the captured CO2 into valuable products such as fuels, chemicals, and building materials. It is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to transform the way we approach climate change. The importance of CCU cannot be overstated. With the world’s population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, energy demand is expected to increase by 30%. There are many types of CCU’s; it majorly involves the captured of carbon from large emitters such as power generators or industries that use fossil fuels or biomass as fuels. The central government also plans to unwind a comprehensive national policy on CCU’s.
METHODS OF CARBON CAPTURE :
• Post-combustion capture: It involves capturing CO2 after fossil fuels are burned. This is the most common method and can be retrofitted to existing power plants.
• Pre-conbustion capture: It involves capturing CO2 before fossil fuels are fully burned by converting them into hydrogen and CO2 through a process known as gasification.
• Direct air capture: It involves removing CO2 directly from the atmosphere, although this approach is currently expensive and less developed than capturing CO2 from point sources.
TECHNOLOGIES FOR CCU :
• Carbon mineralization: It involves the process of converting CO2 into stable solid minerals.
• Chemicals synthesis: It produces chemicals such as methanol, formic acid and urea.
• Biological conversion: It utilizes microorganisms to convert CO2 into biofuels and biochemical.
PATHWAYS FOR CCU :
• Bioenergy with carbon capture and utilization: It produces energy from biomass and captures CO2 emissions, then utilizes the CO2 in products like biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol and biochemicals such as bioplastics and biosolvents.
• Enhanced oil recovery: It injects CO2 into oil reservoirs to increase oil extractions, then utilizes CO2 in products like crude oil and natural gas.
• Construction materials: It utilizes CO2 in construction materials such as concrete and cement.
• Food and beverage: It utilizes CO2 in food and beverage applications such as carbonated drinks and food packaging.
IMPORTANCE OF CCU :
• Mitigating climate change: CCU helps reduce atmospheric CO2 levels, contributing to global efforts to combat change .
• Sustainable resource utilization: CCU transforms waste product ( CO2) into valuable resources, promoting a circular economy.
• Diversified energy mix: CCU enables the production of low carbon fuels, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
CHALLENGES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS :
• Scalability and cost reduction: It improves technology efficiency and reduces cost.
• Infrastructure development: It establishes a supportive infrastructure for CCU deployment.
• Policy and regulation: It encourages policies and frameworks to promote CCU adoption.

CONCLUSION :
Carbon capture and utilization offer a promising solution to reduce CO2 emissions while generating valuable products. However, realizing the full potential of CCU will require overcoming technical, economic and policy challenges. With the right support and continued advancement in technology, CCU can play a crucial role in achieving a low-carbon future.

NAFILA SHIRIN.S

University/College name : JAMAL MOHAMED COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), TRICHY