Technical evaluation of post-combustion CO2 capture and hydrogen production industrial symbiosis

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 43; no. 30; pp. 13852 - 13859
• Main Authors: Ghayur, Adeel, Verheyen, T. Vincent
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 26.07.2018
• Subjects: Biohydrogen; Biorefinery; CO2 capture; Industrial ecology; Waste; Industrial ecology; Biorefinery; CO2 capture; Biohydrogen; Waste
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.02.069

The aim of this study is to develop an industrial ecosystem whereby wastes/products from a Post-combustion CO2 Capture (PCC) plant are utilised in a hydrogen biorefinery. Subsequently, five hydrogen biorefinery models are developed that use PCC's model amine i.e. monoethanolamine (MEA) as a nitrogen source during microbial hydrogen production and CO2 as a process chemical. Technical evaluations of the five case models are carried out to identify the ones that maximise value by multiproduct generation from biomass and fulfil total/partial parasitic energy demand. The case meeting these criteria, produces 3.1t of succinylated lignin adhesive, 4.9t of dry compost and 2744 kWh of electricity from 10t (dry) of sawdust feedstock, daily. Its daily power and heat duties stand at 3906 kWh and 52.1 GJ respectively. Simulations also demonstrate biohydrogen's potential as an energy storage vector for peak/backup power with an annual 1001.4 MWh of power storage capacity from 10t/d feedstock. •Five hydrogen biorefinery models are simulated and technically evaluated.•All models use MEA and CO2 from a PCC to investigate industrial ecology potential.•10t of sawdust is converted into 3.1t of lignin adhesive and 2.7 MWh of electricity.•Solid waste output by is reduced by 40% by converting lignin into a product.