Life cycle assessment of a post-combustion CO2 capture unit through chemical absorption

This study evaluates the environmental impact of carbon capture technology in the context of reducing industrial CO2 emissions within Eco-Industrial Parks (EIP). The primary focus is on the post-combustion absorption process, which uses solvents like monoethanolamine (MOA) to capture CO2 before it is released into the atmosphere. The captured CO2 is either stored or utilized to prevent further contribution to climate change. The study employs a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to compare the environmental impacts of two scenarios: one with CO2 capture and the other with the direct release of CO2 into the atmosphere. The LCA considers inputs, outputs, energy requirements, and materials needed for the CO2 absorption process. The functional unit of the assessment is 1000 tons of CO2, to standardize comparisons between both scenarios. Results show that the CO2 absorption process significantly reduces the impact on climate change, capturing over 80% of the CO2 from the stream. In terms of climate change, the absorption process has a much lower environmental impact than releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. However, other ecological impacts, such as resource use and ecotoxicity, are higher in the absorption process due to the materials required and the solvents used. In conclusion, while the CO2 absorption process offers clear climate benefits, it introduces additional environmental challenges. Future studies should explore alternative carbon capture technologies and extend the scope to include CO2 storage impacts and a broader range of LCA tools for more detailed assessments.