Carbon di oxide (CO2) emissions : an overview of the possible technologies for reducing CO2 emissions in power plants

Emissions of CO2 from different sources such as fuel combustion, industrial and agricultural processes, etc are the main contributor for global warming. Therefore, controlling CO2 emissions with an appropriate technology is vital to reduce global warming. Although various CO2 capture technologies are available, some of them are in pilot plant stage and some are in developing stage. In this study post combustion technologies such as chemical absorption, pressure swing adsorption (PSA), gas separation membranes, mineral carbonation, etc, are reviewed and their pros and cons are discussed. Among these technologies, the chemical absorption process and membrane process for mitigating CO2 emission are costly and more energy consuming. Cost and energy reduction can be achieved by improving these technologies using modified absorbent, catalyst, suitable combination of membrane and solvent, enhancing reaction kinetics, combining different processes, etc. Processes including PSA and mineral carbonation are relatively new processes. Mineral carbonation is a promising technology for capturing CO2 compared to other processes though it is still in the developing stage. This study aims to identify an appropriate technology for reducing CO2 emissions from coal fired power plants. The study will provide a better understanding of the CO2 reduction technologies for achieving sustainable environment and resource processing.