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| volume 7, issue #22 - Wednesday, November 13, 2002 | |
24-10-02 A group of researchers
simulating conditions available to a power plant were able to sequester
over 20 % of the carbon dioxide emissions. They used inert biomass char
from which hydrogen had been extracted. Passing ammonia (which is made
from hydrogen) into the exhaust gas with fluidised char, they were able
to produce ammonium bicarbonate fertilizer inside the microscopic char
structure.
This integrated method of creating a nitrogen rich
fertilizer could mean the profitable direct capture of power plant CO2
emissions, and reduce NOx and SOx, which are captured as well. In one
test, they effectively sequestered rates of atmospheric carbons equal
to 35 % of carbon dioxide emissions. The process creates a slow release
fertilizer material called ECOSSTM, (enriched carbon, slow-release
sequestering) fertilizer with many soil amendment properties.
The
group seeks partnerships with agricultural schools, the fertilizer
industry and farmer co-ops to validate performance of these
sequestering soil
amendments. The inventors of the novel sequestration technique are
Danny Day, Bob Evans (National Renewable Energy Laboratory-NREL), James
Lee and Rongfu Li (Oak Ridge National Laboratory- ORNL) The technique
involves both direct capture of the CO2 as well as and indirect
capture/sequestration by using the char. The combined product also
increases sequestration of CO2 in plant growth.
ORNL
and NREL technologies are synergistically working together to sequester
large amounts of carbon while removing carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide
and sulphur dioxide from power plant emission. The group filed for
patent protection to insure investigators and companies seeking to
solve global warming issues can secure access to the technology.
The
verification of this capability could mean a solution for global
warming issues is closer at hand. Day said, "We have dedicated that
profits derived from these inventions will go back into the research
work for global warming issues."
"This method may not be the very
best,
but we can at least demonstrate a profitable way to achieve
sequestration goals while other more advanced technologies are
developed. Our view is that a technology that rebuilds soils, retains
moisture, increases plant growth, creates a renewable hydrogen
infrastructure, reduces farm chemical runoff and does it by using that
which has historically viewed as part of global warming, may have a
place in a sustainable future.
Source: www.eprida.com
