Since the need of eliminating effects of carbon dioxide emissions for sustainable environment is increasing, different techniques are in practice to either reduce the manufacturing processes which emit CO2 or capture the carbon dioxide emissions to store or utilize in producing other products. The Carbon2x technology is an advanced carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology that uses carbon dioxide emissions from waste incineration to produce biodegradable plastics.
Plastic is the most widely used material worldwide and its demand is increasing and would reach threefold by 2050. While most of the conventional plastic production is fossil based, the need of recycled plastic is increasing. But unfortunately plastic recycling is being carried out at a very slow rate.
Nearly 220 million tons of plastic is produced every year and only 9% of that is recycled. While in United States, about 48 million tons of plastic waste is generated but only 5 to 6 percent of it is actually recycled.
What is Carbon Capturing, Utilization and Storage?
Carbon Capturing, Utilization and Storage technology captures carbon emitted during industrial processes preventing its release into the environment. These technologies also capture carbon already deposited into the atmosphere from other sources, thus reducing overall accumulation and reducing its impact to the environment. These carbon emissions are separated from other gases produced industrially at power plants, steel mills, and oil and gas refineries.
After capturing, if not used on-site, these emissions are transported, often by pipeline, for use in the production of synthetic fuels and concrete or injected into geological formations underneath the earth for permanent storage. Normally the same formations from which oil and gas are extracted can store CO2, deep in the ground.
What is CCUS used for?
Carbon capture and utilization technology is primarily used for permanent storage of CO2 in geologic formations like oil and gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams, and deep saline reservoirs and secondly used directly or indirectly in manufacturing fertilizers and enhanced oil recovery and extend life of oil fields, and now is being increasingly used to produce synthetic fuels, chemicals, and building materials.
The technology is also being used extensively in many industries like cement, steel and chemicals for decarbonizing their industrial processes. Read our complete blog about decarbonizing cement industry.
As we are in transition towards a low-carbon future, the benefits of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are becoming more obvious. These technologies are playing a significant role in balancing the need to protect the environment and serve as an important tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Producing Plastics from CO2
- Industrial CO2 emissions are converted into ethanol which is further processed into ethylene and polymerized into polyethylene, the material used for making shampoo bottles, food containers, medical implants, ropes, and fishing nets.
- Another method is to convert plastic waste into a porous material that efficiently captures CO2. By treating plastics like polypropylene and polyethylene with potassium acetate, they created this innovative material.
- Some technologies convert methane and carbon dioxide into Air Carbon, a biopolymer used in packaging, furniture, and accessories.
- A nanotechnology to convert carbon dioxide into carbon nanotubes, which is crucial for electronics and aerospace.
Carbon2x – A Key Innovations in Carbon Capture and Utilization
Some of the plastic types cannot be mechanically recycled into a new material. Bio-based plastic production is a sustainable solution but is limited due to availability of raw materials such as wood, sugar beet, sugar cane and vegetable oils. Therefore, new solutions must be developed for sustainable plastic production.
Carbon2x is the most advanced technology which captures carbon dioxide emissions from the incineration of non-recyclable waste and uses them to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate PHA, a biodegradable plastic and some other valuable products.
This integrated solution of utilizing carbon dioxide generated from waste incineration is introduced by Fortum Corporation, Finland and is the first of its kind in the world.
Advantages of CO2-Based Biodegradable Plastics
CO2-based biodegradable plastic is a significant alternative to the plastic market because it has the same qualitative properties as traditional, fossil-based virgin plastics.
This plastic can be recycled just like many other plastics providing a circular economy. Another advantage of biodegradable plastic is that even if it ends up in nature by accident, it decomposes and does not leave harmful microplastics in the environment.
Carbon2x also turns waste into valuable feedstock for high-quality rigid and durable plastic that could be used for making other products like food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics packaging, toys and home electronics.
These PHA polymers, combining with additives and fillers create a polyester plastic having many chemical characteristics like;
Hydrophobic (water barrier resistant which does not dissolve in water),
Thermoplastic (can be melted and reshaped),
Biodegradable (decomposed in soil, fresh water, landfill and used in composting), and
Malleable (suitable for different processing methods like injection molding, extrusion and coating etc).
The industrial production of biodegradable plastic made from waste incineration of non-recyclable wastes may start by 2030 paving a way to reduce fossil based plastics.
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