Research on greenhouse gas emission impact and methodology of captured CO2 on ethylene production

As the world seeks effective solutions to mitigate climate change, various carbon mitigation technologies have gained attention for their potential to reduce industrial emissions. Among these, carbon capture and utilization (CCU) has emerged as a promising technology for achieving net-zero emissions and is being developed and implemented globally. CCU captures CO₂ from numerous sources and reuses it in processes such as industrial chemical production. Among industrial sectors, the refinery sector is of environmental interest due to its relatively high CO₂ emissions. Accordingly, the refinery sector requires innovative solutions for carbon recycling and reduction. However, the lack of quantitative analysis on actual carbon reductions and the unintended energy consumption during CCU operations present significant challenges to widespread implementation in conventional refinery plants. Furthermore, the absence of a globally accepted CCU methodology for carbon mitigation complicates the securing of carbon credits. This study aims to analyze the emission impact of CCU processes, focusing specifically on ethylene production. From the perspective of carbon credit and methodology, our analysis examines the key processes and factors that influence emission reductions. For this purpose, we selected and analyzed the ethylene production process using captured CO₂. Ethylene, a critical resource for the petrochemical industry, requires substantial energy input during production. Using CCU technology, ethylene can be synthesized directly from captured CO₂ with the addition of hydrogen (H₂). Our findings indicate that the impact of carbon capture whether direct air capture or point source capture-and hydrogen utilization in CCU projects varies significantly depending on the energy source (renewable versus non-renewable). Additionally, we discuss important considerations for developing a robust greenhouse gas reduction methodology, which is essential for successful implementation of CCU technologies in refinery sectors.