Carbon dioxide: Problem matter or inexpensive raw material. An inventory of technologies for the usage and disposal of CO(sub 2)

摘要

The aim of the title inventory is to inform the reader broadly of the different options available to reduce a further increase in the natural greenhouse effect. A literature study is carried out on the final destination of CO(sub 2), when it is removed on a large scale from fuel gases and flue gases of power plants. The worldwide commercial use of 116 Mt CO(sub 2) per year (106 Mt in the chemical industry) amounts only 0.6% to the CO(sub 2) emitted, due to the use of fossil fuels (20 Gt CO(sub 2) per year). In spite of the fact that several potential growing markets are identified for the commercial use of CO(sub 2), it is generally expected that the worldwide market will be limited to 1-5% of the fossil fuels emitted CO(sub 2). Therefore, a large part of the amount of separated CO(sub 2) has to be disposed. Four disposal alternatives are discussed: ocean disposal, subterranean disposal, terrestrial disposal, and biological fixation. The most promising options are liquid CO(sub 2) injection into or below the lower layer of the thermocline of the ocean, the combined option of enhanced oil recovery and disposal in oil reservoirs, disposal in exhausted natural gas fields, and the growing of energy crops and microalgae as substitute for the use of fossil fuels. 22 figs., 9 tabs., 83 refs.