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Environmental impacts of CO2-based chemical production: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis

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  • Thonemann, Nils

Abstract

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is perceived as a technology to mitigate climate change and conserve non-renewable resources, especially in the chemical industry. Numerous life cycle assessments (LCA) of individual CCU systems have been carried out. The goal of this review is to understand the environmental effects of CO2-based chemical production comprehensively. In order to achieve this goal, a systematic literature review and a meta-analysis were conducted. 52 peer-reviewed articles were found that deal with LCA and CO2-based chemical production. Amongst the case studies found, the methodological choices and technological parameters differ. The meta-analysis reveals that there is no CO2-based chemical production technology that performs better in all analyzed impact categories (IC) compared to conventional production. Nevertheless, looking at the results from the meta-analysis, it has been found that the CO2-based production of formic acid (FA) via H2 is a promising CCU pathway. FA produced via hydrogenation performs better in 11 out of 15 ICs using the German grid mix as the electricity supplier and better in 14 out of 15 ICs using wind power as the electricity supplier compared to the conventional production. The global warming impact of FA production can be reduced by 95.01% when produced via CO2 hydrogenation. The meta-analysis also unveils CCU technologies that are not favorable from an environmental perspective because CO2-based kerosene and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) production lead to higher impacts in all ICs compared to conventional production. This study can inform decision-makers about the differences in published LCA studies on CCU and the harmonized environmental impacts of CO2based chemical production.

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  • Thonemann, Nils, 2020. "Environmental impacts of CO2-based chemical production: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:263:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920301112
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114599
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wieland Hoppe & Nils Thonemann & Stefan Bringezu, 2018. "Life Cycle Assessment of Carbon Dioxide–Based Production of Methane and Methanol and Derived Polymers," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(2), pages 327-340, April.
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    6. Koj, Jan Christian & Wulf, Christina & Zapp, Petra, 2019. "Environmental impacts of power-to-X systems - A review of technological and methodological choices in Life Cycle Assessments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 865-879.
    7. Zhang, Xiaojin & Bauer, Christian & Mutel, Christopher L. & Volkart, Kathrin, 2017. "Life Cycle Assessment of Power-to-Gas: Approaches, system variations and their environmental implications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 326-338.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kang, Dongseong & Byun, Jaewon & Han, Jee-hoon, 2023. "Environmental impact analysis of steelmaking off-gases on methanol production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    2. Agata Jaroń & Anna Borucka & Rafał Parczewski, 2022. "Analysis of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Value of CO 2 Emissions from Electricity Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Eleonora Bargiacchi & Nils Thonemann & Jutta Geldermann & Marco Antonelli & Umberto Desideri, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment of Synthetic Natural Gas Production from Different CO 2 Sources: A Cradle-to-Gate Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Muhammad Nawaz & Humbul Suleman & Abdulhalim Shah Maulud, 2022. "Carbon Capture and Utilization: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2007–2021," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Ravikumar, Dwarakanath & Keoleian, Gregory & Miller, Shelie, 2020. "The environmental opportunity cost of using renewable energy for carbon capture and utilization for methanol production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    6. Zhang, Xue & Li, Lei & Su, Yuliang & Da, Qi'an & Fu, Jingang & Wang, Rujun & Chen, Fangfang, 2023. "Microfluidic investigation on asphaltene interfaces attempts to carbon sequestration and leakage: Oil-CO2 phase interaction characteristics at ultrahigh temperature and pressure," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    7. Georgios Varvoutis & Athanasios Lampropoulos & Evridiki Mandela & Michalis Konsolakis & George E. Marnellos, 2022. "Recent Advances on CO 2 Mitigation Technologies: On the Role of Hydrogenation Route via Green H 2," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-38, June.
    8. Czuma, Natalia & Samojeden, Bogdan & Zarębska, Katarzyna & Motak, Monika & Da Costa, Patrick, 2022. "Modified fly ash, a waste material from the energy industry, as a catalyst for the CO2 reduction to methane," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).

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