CO₂ Capture and Sequestration - Implications for the Metals Industry
Authors: M. Berkley, J. Berzansky, D. Clarry, J. Sarvinis
The Mining, Metals & Materials Society - Annual General Meeting 2008

Abstract

Technologies developed to sequester CO₂ or use CO₂ for enhanced fossil fuel recovery are currently being utilized across the globe. Taxation regimes and CO2 credit trading are becoming drivers for a number of projects. Some mining companies have also identified ancillary opportunity to sequester CO₂ in their by-products; recent work in the alumina industry is a prime example.

In addition to process plant emissions, mining companies are becoming increasingly aware of their overall carbon footprint, including CO₂ generated during the production of utility power. New power plant designs, in various stages of development, include CO₂ separation and sequestration techniques. This paper summarizes the state-of-the-art for these technologies; including integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants. A concept to use the gasification products as reductant in metallurgical processes is also described. The relevance of technology from power plant designs with post-combustion capture to the processing of off-gas generated in metallurgical facilities is also reviewed.