Sustainability Assessment of the Utilization of CO2 in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor Powered by Photovoltaic Energy

Josep O. Pou; Eduard Estopañán; Javier Fernández García; Rafael Gonzalez-Olmos

doi:10.3390/pr10091851

Sustainability Assessment of the Utilization of CO₂ in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor Powered by Photovoltaic Energy

Josep O. Pou^*
, Eduard Estopañán
, Javier Fernández García
, Rafael Gonzalez-Olmos

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Indexed journal article › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The direct activation of diluted CO₂ in argon was studied in a co-axial dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor powered by photovoltaic energy. The influence of the initial CO₂ and argon concentration on the CO₂ decomposition to form CO was investigated using a copper-based catalyst in the discharge zone. It was observed that the CO₂ conversion was higher at lower CO₂ concentrations. The presence of the diluent gas (argon) was also studied and it was observed how it has a high influence on the decomposition of CO_2, improving the conversion at high argon concentrations. At the highest observed energy efficiency (1.7%), the CO₂ conversion obtained was 40.2%. It was observed that a way to enhance the sustainability of the process was to use photovoltaic energy. Taking into account a life cycle assessment approach (LCA), it was estimated that within the best-case scenario, it would be feasible to counterbalance 97% of the CO₂ emissions related to the process.

Original language	English
Article number	1851
Number of pages	11
Journal	Processes
Volume	10
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10091851
Publication status	Published - Sept 2022

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

CO conversion
DBD
carbon capture and utilization (CCU)
non-thermal plasma

Access to Document

10.3390/pr10091851

Cite this

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title = "Sustainability Assessment of the Utilization of CO2 in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor Powered by Photovoltaic Energy",

abstract = "The direct activation of diluted CO2 in argon was studied in a co-axial dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor powered by photovoltaic energy. The influence of the initial CO2 and argon concentration on the CO2 decomposition to form CO was investigated using a copper-based catalyst in the discharge zone. It was observed that the CO2 conversion was higher at lower CO2 concentrations. The presence of the diluent gas (argon) was also studied and it was observed how it has a high influence on the decomposition of CO2, improving the conversion at high argon concentrations. At the highest observed energy efficiency (1.7\%), the CO2 conversion obtained was 40.2\%. It was observed that a way to enhance the sustainability of the process was to use photovoltaic energy. Taking into account a life cycle assessment approach (LCA), it was estimated that within the best-case scenario, it would be feasible to counterbalance 97\% of the CO2 emissions related to the process.",

keywords = "CO conversion, DBD, carbon capture and utilization (CCU), non-thermal plasma",

author = "Pou, \{Josep O.\} and Eduard Estopa{\~n}{\'a}n and \{Fern{\'a}ndez Garc{\'i}a\}, Javier and Rafael Gonzalez-Olmos",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 by the authors.",

year = "2022",

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volume = "10",

journal = "Processes",

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AU - Pou, Josep O.

AU - Estopañán, Eduard

AU - Fernández García, Javier

AU - Gonzalez-Olmos, Rafael

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - The direct activation of diluted CO2 in argon was studied in a co-axial dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor powered by photovoltaic energy. The influence of the initial CO2 and argon concentration on the CO2 decomposition to form CO was investigated using a copper-based catalyst in the discharge zone. It was observed that the CO2 conversion was higher at lower CO2 concentrations. The presence of the diluent gas (argon) was also studied and it was observed how it has a high influence on the decomposition of CO2, improving the conversion at high argon concentrations. At the highest observed energy efficiency (1.7%), the CO2 conversion obtained was 40.2%. It was observed that a way to enhance the sustainability of the process was to use photovoltaic energy. Taking into account a life cycle assessment approach (LCA), it was estimated that within the best-case scenario, it would be feasible to counterbalance 97% of the CO2 emissions related to the process.

AB - The direct activation of diluted CO2 in argon was studied in a co-axial dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor powered by photovoltaic energy. The influence of the initial CO2 and argon concentration on the CO2 decomposition to form CO was investigated using a copper-based catalyst in the discharge zone. It was observed that the CO2 conversion was higher at lower CO2 concentrations. The presence of the diluent gas (argon) was also studied and it was observed how it has a high influence on the decomposition of CO2, improving the conversion at high argon concentrations. At the highest observed energy efficiency (1.7%), the CO2 conversion obtained was 40.2%. It was observed that a way to enhance the sustainability of the process was to use photovoltaic energy. Taking into account a life cycle assessment approach (LCA), it was estimated that within the best-case scenario, it would be feasible to counterbalance 97% of the CO2 emissions related to the process.

KW - CO conversion

KW - DBD

KW - carbon capture and utilization (CCU)

KW - non-thermal plasma

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