CO2 utilization options, Part I: An emission assessment framework

The utilization of CO₂ in various products and services must be carefully assessed in order to achieve reduced CO₂ emissions and simultaneously to add to the net economic benefit of society. In this paper, a framework for the assessment of CO₂ utilization options in the chemical industry is outlined in which the total CO₂ emission is estimated in four steps. First, the processes under study are surveyed to establish the consumption of different raw materials (reactants). Second, the CO₂ emission due to the content of fossil carbon in the reactants is determined, i.e. the material-related emission. Third, the CO₂ emission related to energy consumption in the studied processes is estimated, i.e. the direct energy-related emission. Fourth, the CO₂ emission related to energy consumption in the reactant production processes is estimated, i.e. the indirect energy-related emission.