(272e) Questions Posed to Adsorption-Based CO2 Capture

Most of us, including TOTAL s.e., accept that climate change is a reality and that a collective effort will be needed to limit its impact. TOTAL has integrated climate into the core of its strategy with notably the ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Carbon storage is a key factor to achieve carbon neutrality via both carbon sinks (i.e., that can absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide) and carbon capture, and storage (CCS). To achieve neutrality, CCS will need to be accompanied by DACCS and/or BECCS in order to mitigate against GHG emissions which are difficult to avoid.

Much of the efforts in the company are focussed on carbon storage. TOTAL is a partner of the Norwegian carbon capture platform at Sleipner from 1996. Currently, TOTAL partners with Shell, Equinor and the Norwegian Government in the Northern Lights project which initially aims to transport and store 1.5 Mtonnes of CO₂ per year. If this is successful, the second stage of Northern Lights aims to store around 5 Mtonnes of CO₂ per year. Between 2010 and 2013, TOTAL demonstrated a complete carbon capture, transportation and storage chain at one of their sites in the south west of France.

CO₂ capture can be considered as the most expensive step in a CCS chain. Whilst TOTAL does not develop its own anthropogenic capture solutions, it is involved in various R&D projects with the aim to understand different approaches and technologies to choose the optimal solutions for its own sites around the world. An analysis of carbon capture methods suggests that there is room for improvement, for example, in terms of energy required, process integration and possibly also in terms of environmental impact. Depending on the CO₂ source and site where it is produced, one of several approaches can be considered and the final choice of technology will depend on many factors including available energy, integration, as well as any future evolution of CO₂ reglementation, possible process electrification with renewable energies etc...

Adsorption-based CO₂ capture can be argued of interest with respect to energy requirements and environmental impact. Whilst adsorption-based capture processes can be quite complex, one can consider three basic elements : the process, the contactor and the adsorbent material. In terms of process, whilst PSA and TSA are well known, one should not overlook the possibility of methods based on concentration swings. In terms of contactor, fixed bed systems may well be replaced by fluidized beds or moving beds. The use of rotating wheels may allow more rapid cycles to be developed. In terms of material, zeolites, and amine-grafted silicas are now being challenged by metal-organic frameworks as the material of choice.

The aim of this talk is to a give some insights into some of the questions that TOTAL’s R&D teams are asking in their quest to decarbonize both their assets and move forward on negative emission technologies with a focus on adsorption-based solutions.