Claus Jørgen Nielsen

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is among the most important contributes to mitigating climate change. One of the more promising technologies for efficient post combustion CO2 capture is through the use of amines. A CO2 capture plant using amines will produce amine emissions to the air, while possibly also forming other compounds in the atmosphere after emission. Statoil, Shell Technology Norway and CLIMIT financed a screening study to evaluate if the emissions caused by CO2 capture using amines could pose a risk to human health and the natural environment (CO2-capture and Amines). This screening study showed that several toxic compounds may result. Of immediate concern are toxic compounds such as nitrosamines, nitramines, and N-nitro amides.

The (ADA-2009) project investigated the atmospheric fate of MEA (aminoethanol). Photo-oxidation experiments were carried out under natural conditions at the European Photochemical Reactor, EUPHORE, in Valencia, Spain. The experiments showed that the major products (>80 %) in the atmospheric photo-oxidation are formamide (NH2CHO) and formaldehyde (CH2O). The possible carcinogenic nitramine, O2NNHCH2CH2OH, was confirmed as a minor product in the experiments. The project was financed by Statoil, Masdar and CLIMIT.

The (ADA-2010) project continues the ADA-2009 work by investigating the atmospheric degradation of small alkane-amines. These amines are regarded as typical degradation products in an amine based CO2 capture plant and will therefore be part of the release to the air. Two experimental campaigns are planned in European Photochemical Reactor, EUPHORE, in Valencia, Spain. ADA-2010 is financed by Statoil, Masdar, Vattenfall and CLIMIT.