Capture and Storage of Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

In response to climate change and its adverse effects, 197 countries adopted the Paris Agreement at the 21st Conference of the Parties in Paris on December 12, 2015, recognizing the importance of limiting the rise in global temperature. This goal necessitates reducing the impact of greenhouse gases, primarily from human activities, which includes the crucial task of removing accumulated gases from the Earth's atmosphere. Our study explores the imperative of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) to limit the global temperature increase to approximately two degrees Celsius. This requires the extraction of around 600 gigatons of CO2 during this century, translating to the annual disposal and safe storage of tens of gigatons of CO2. We investigate various methods and techniques for CO2 removal, both natural and industrial, with the aim of reducing atmospheric CO2 levels to those at the onset of the industrial revolution (approximately 280 parts per million). The study proposes and evaluates several methods, some of which are currently in use, to assess their effectiveness and impact on the planet's ecosystem. This includes a thorough consideration of their applicability, material costs, and feasibility, as well as the long-term effects of large-scale decarbonization. One significant method examined is the storage of CO2 in geological layers, oceans, and minerals, offering innovative insights into these techniques as viable solutions for large-scale CO2 reduction.