Carbon Dioxide Emission Reducing Technology Melissa Miller Department of Chemical Engineering University of Texas at Austin

Carbon Dioxide, the Culprit Impacts of Carbon Dioxide Impacts of Carbon Dioxide Technology Technology Direct Condensation Direct Condensation Absorption Absorption Membrane Membrane Case Study Case Study Chevron Phillips Polyethylene Unit Chevron Phillips Polyethylene Unit Policy Policy Kyoto Protocol Kyoto Protocol Emission Caps/Credits Emission Caps/Credits

Where’s it From? US largest producer in the World US largest producer in the World Vehicles Vehicles 1 gal gasoline = 5 lb carbon 1 gal gasoline = 5 lb carbon 1 yr driving = 1 ton carbon/person 1 yr driving = 1 ton carbon/person Power Production Power Production Responsible for 80% CO 2 emissions Responsible for 80% CO 2 emissions Coal produces 82% CO 2 emissions Coal produces 82% CO 2 emissions Chemical/Refinery Facilities Chemical/Refinery Facilities

What’s the Impact? “Greenhouse Effect” “Greenhouse Effect” One-Way Mirror One-Way Mirror Increase of 3 degrees Fahrenheit Increase of 3 degrees Fahrenheit 15% Shrinking of Polar Ice Caps 15% Shrinking of Polar Ice Caps Glaciers Glaciers Drought Drought Rise in Malaria Rise in Malaria

Direct Condensation How it works How it works Heat Exchanger Basis Heat Exchanger Basis Versatile System Versatile System Benefits Benefits To meet the environmental emissions regulations To meet the environmental emissions regulations To recover valuable product To recover valuable product To reduce high operating costs of alternate treatment systems To reduce high operating costs of alternate treatment systems To provide an environmentally safe operating system To provide an environmentally safe operating system

Absorption Oldest of CO 2 removal processes Oldest of CO 2 removal processes Catalytic Reaction Catalytic Reaction MEA MEA CO 2 Absorbed at high pressure CO 2 Absorbed at high pressure Desorbed at low pressure Desorbed at low pressure Batch Process Batch Process Need several beds Need several beds Inconsistent Flow Inconsistent Flow

Membrane Newest Technology Newest Technology 10 years 10 years Still in Research Stage, Field Tests Still in Research Stage, Field Tests Polymer Membrane Polymer Membrane Removes volatile organic compounds from plant’s recycle gas streams Removes volatile organic compounds from plant’s recycle gas streams Substantial Pressure Loss 4:1 Substantial Pressure Loss 4:1 Recovered products offsets cost of technology Recovered products offsets cost of technology

Case Study: Chevron Phillips Combined System Combined System Partial Condensation Partial Condensation Pressure Swing Absorption Pressure Swing Absorption 100% Removal 100% Removal Pure Nitrogen Pure Nitrogen Separation of Light and Heavy Hydrocarbons Separation of Light and Heavy Hydrocarbons Cost Efficient Cost Efficient 90% Cheaper than Flaring 90% Cheaper than Flaring 82% Cheaper than Partial Recovery 82% Cheaper than Partial Recovery

Policy Kyoto Protocol Kyoto Protocol Instigated during Clinton administration Instigated during Clinton administration US pledges 7% decrease in emissions US pledges 7% decrease in emissions Emission Caps Emission Caps Caps placed on Sulfur for Power Plants Caps placed on Sulfur for Power Plants Soon on CO 2 Soon on CO 2 Emission Credits Emission Credits World wide system based on Population, Economic Growth, and Past Emissions World wide system based on Population, Economic Growth, and Past Emissions Offsets can be bartered within countries and eventually internationally Offsets can be bartered within countries and eventually internationally