Carbon+Recovery+2

=Carbon Recovery = = =

By Jared Kolomyjec and Taylor Hamilton


**Table of Contents:**

 * ====**1. What is Carbon Recovery?**====
 * ====**2. The Finer Points of Pre-Combustion Carbon Recovery**====
 * ====**3. The Finer Points of Post-Combustion Carbon Recovery**====
 * ====**4. Overview**====
 * ====**5. Importance**====
 * ====**6. Related Video**====
 * ====**7. Wiki Relations**====
 * ====**8. What Do You Think?**====
 * ====**9. References**====

What is Carbon Recovery?
====Carbon Recovery is the collection of Carbon Dioxide via many methods. These methods vary depending at what part of the combustion cycle in the plant the Carbon Dioxide is being collected. With post-combustion collection, where the Carbon Dioxide is collected after the burning of the fossil fuels in the flue gas, which contains the Carbon Dioxide, water vapor, Sulfur Dioxides, and Nitrogen Oxides.[|(3)] The Carbon Dioxide is merely separated from the other gases. In Precumbustion carbon carbon capture, the Carbon Dioxide is separated from the substance being burned before it is burned, thus not having to take the carbon out of the flue gas later. There is another type called Oxy-fuel combustion carbon capture, but we shall not go over this.====

The Finer Points of Pre-Combustion Carbon Recovery
= = ====In this type of reaction, Whatever the fuel being burned, whether its coal, natural gas, or oil, it is treated in a catalytic(channeling) converter. Usually used inside cars to suppress emissions, these are also used to help collect Carbon Dioxide while burning fossil fuels. In the converter, there is both a reduction catalyst and an oxidation catalyst. Both usually contain platinum, rhodium, and/or palladium. The first part of the converter, the reduction catalyst, combines nitrogen atoms with other nitrogen atoms by ripping it out of the molecule. This leaves Oxygen molecules behind. The reaction looks like this:==== ====**2NO => N2 + O2** or **2NO2 => N2 + 2O2** (this example is the chemical reaction for a converter in a car, in the version for fuels used in plants, there is actually Hydrogen produced instead of Nitrogen)====

**2CO + O2 => 2CO2**
====After this occurs, the Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen gases are fed in to a chamber. Since Carbon Dioxide naturally rises, a chemical called amine is poured on top which binds to the Carbon Dioxide causing it to fall to the bottom of the chamber again. The Hydrogen in the flask continues to rise, as it is less dense than the Carbon Dioxide, and leaves the chamber. Once all the Carbon Dioxide is collected, the mixture of amine and Carbon Dioxide is heated so that the Carbon Dioxide rises to the top of the chamber and the amine falls to the bottom of the chamber. This allows for the collection of the Carbon Dioxide. This is how Pre-Cumbustion Carbon Recovery works.====

The Finer Points of Post-Combustion Carbon Recovery[[image:http://www.iea-coal.org.uk/files/Site2006/Newsletter/November%202007/solvent%20scrubbing.jpg]]
====As previously explained, the Carbon Dioxide in the flue gas is collected in this type of recovery. Typically, Amine is used to capture Carbon Dioxide in this process as well. In Post-combustion, fuel, whatever it may be, is burned and goes through the energy conversion. When this happens, Carbon Dioxide is then seperated from the equation, and the remaining flue gas is released. Nitrogen is used, since it is an amine based reaction, to gather the Carbon Dioxide when it is still in the flue gas but before the flue gas is dealt with.[|(5)] Amine's atomic formula is very close to that of Ammonia, so cooling Carbon Dioxide with the Amine acts just like if you cooled it with Ammonia, it allows them to react. Once they do react, the Carbon Dioxide and the Amine combine and are then able to be removed from the flue gas and the process all together.====

Oxy-fuels
Oxy-fuels is a process where fuel is burned in the presence of pure oxygen instead of just air. This allows for a much hotter combustion than simply burning the fuels in the presence of air. This then results in a more complete combustion process since there is more oxygen available for the reaction. Also, almost no nitrogen is used during the reaction. This then results in an exhaust with almost pure Carbon Dioxide and water vapor, which can easily then be separated from the Carbon Dioxide by using by condensation.

With this method, many think that it will be able to result in a 100% carbon capture rate. This would be an amazing step, as that means that Carbon Dioxide would no longer be a pollutant while we burn fossil fuels, which is the main concern when it comes to Green House gases and fossil fuel combustion.([|1]).

=
The development of this technology could potentially be one of the most important scientific developments of our century. Our situation relative to the impending doom of Climate Change is become increasing desperate by the day. This technology can directly neutralize the chief cause of climate change. By capturing Carbon Dioxide emissions and storing them underground, we are stopping the most lethal greenhouse gas to our planet from ever being able to deflect the harmful solar radiation back down at us.======

Video Time!
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 Wiki Relations
====This relates directly to Green House Effect. If we help stop Carbon from entering the atmosphere, then the Green House effect will not continue as rapidly as it would otherwise. This will help slow the overall warming of the earth, and, eventually, perhaps even begin to cool off. Since Carbon is the most produced Greenhouse gas, then helping to stop carbon from entering the atmosphere would be a monumental victory in fighting to slow the Green House Effect.==== ====Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Ocean explains what negative effect Carbon Dioxide can have on the earth's oceans. Since Carbon Dioxide levels ruin marine life if they get to high, then helping to stop Carbon Dioxide from entering the atmosphere would greatly help stop this catastrophe. Capturing Carbon Dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere, and later the oceans, would help stop more Carbon Dioxide from building up in the oceans, which could lead to the deaths and even extinctions of many animals.====



What Do **You** Think?
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References
1.Andy Rutherford. "Oxy-Fuel Combustion Capture" SCCS Consortium 17 Septemeber 2008. http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/sccs/capture/oxyfuel.html

==== 2.Blankinship, Steve. "The Evolution of Carbon Capture Technology (Part 2)." __ RedOrbit __ 15 June 2008. RedOrbit. 6 Apr. 2009 . ====

==== 5.Richardson, Jason. "Post-combustion carbon capture from coal-fired plants - solvent scrubbing." __IEA Clean Coal Centre Newsletter__. IEA Clean Coal Centre. 6 Apr. 2009 . ====

==== 6.Wheeler, Forester. "Comparative Study of Post- and Pre-Combustion Decarbonisation." __AEA Energy and Environment__ (2007). __Department for Business__ __ Enterprise ____ & Regulatory Reform __. 2007. BP International Ltd. 6 Apr. 2009 . ====