CO2MIN

Contact

© Copyright: Lehrstuhl fuer Technische Thermodynamik der RWTH Aachen

Name

Sarah Deutz

Group Leader Energy Systems Engineering (on parental leave)

Phone

work

+49 241 80 95391

Email

E-Mail

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Background

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is a promising measure to tackle climate change and its consequences. However, most CCU technologies are very energy intensive because carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an inert compound and has a very low level of energy. Minerals are one of the few components that have a lower level of energy than CO₂. Alkaline minerals can react exothermally with CO₂ to produce stable carbonate minerals and silicate. CO₂ is permanently stored in carbonate minerals. Furthermore, these products can substitute raw materials, which are currently used in the construction sector. Through this substitution, the environmental impacts according to the conventional production of these materials can be avoided.

Goal of this Project

Copyright: © LTT

Focus of the work at LTT is the environmental assessment of developing processes for mineralization via Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA is a systematic method that takes into account the entire life cycle of the product from the raw material extraction until the final disposal of the waste. This standardized approach avoids problem shifting between life-cycle stages or between environmental impacts. The integration of LCA into process development enables the improvement of process concepts according to environmental aspects at early stages.
Within the scope of the “CO₂min” project, different technologies, raw materials and final products are investigated and evaluated under environmental aspects. The final goal is to identify the best combination of raw material, technology and final product from an environmental point of view.

Copyright: © BMBF