OVERVIEW

The teaching provides the fundamental principles and the basic knowledge for understanding the various carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) processes and technologies. For each process and technology, the potentials and challenges will be discussed. For selected technologies, laboratory experiences will be planned too.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide fundamental principles of the processes for carbon capture, utilization, and storage; basic knowledge on the most relevant technologies will be provided too. During the lessons, a particular emphasis will be given to the transport phenomena involved in several carbon capture processes as well as to the potentials and challenges that characterize each technology, also through laboratory experiences. At the end of the lessons, the students should have acquired both a theoretical and practical knowledge on several CCUS processes and technologies that will allow them to select the best system for each situation.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide the students with the basic knowledge on several steps involved in carbon dioxide capture, segregation and utilization in the frame of CCUS technologies.

At the end of the course the students will:

• Have basic knowledge on the problem of CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere.
• Know the main industrial processes that release CO₂ in the atmosphere.
• Have an overview on the principal technologies developed for CO₂ capture, storage and utilization.
• Understand the main advantages and limitations related to the various CO₂ mitigation systems.

PREREQUISITES

There are no official prerequisites for the course. However, a basic knowledge on transport phenomena and on traditional unit operation is strongly suggested.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of traditional lectures for a total of 40 hours (5CFU) and three laboratory experiences for a total of 13 hours (1CFU).

Attendance at the laboratory is mandatory, as per the Teaching Regulations. The laboratory will be taught by the professors in charge of teaching, assisted by laboratory tutors. At the beginning of each laboratory activity there will be a brief theoretical introduction on the principles behind the methodologies that will be used. In the practical part, students, divided into groups of three or four, will have to apply the provided experimental protocol and the described methods. At the end of the lectures, group reports on the laboratory experiences will have to be handed in. The organization and dates of the laboratory activities will be communicated directly by the lecturers at the beginning of class.

Lesson presentations are uploaded to the corresponding aul@web.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Theory lessons

1. Introduction: the problem of CO₂ and the CCUS approach
2. Carbon capture technologies
   1. Absorption and adsorption systems
   2. Membrane separation process
3. Carbon storage strategies
   1. Geological storage
   2. Ocean storage
4. Carbon utilization chemistry and technologies
   1. Properties of CO2 molecule
   2. Non-chemical use of CO₂ as supercritical solvent
   3. Thermal and catalytic conversion of CO₂, Dry reforming and reverse water gas shift reaction. Methanol and Dimethyl ether synthesis. Fuel synthesis (methanation, Fischer Tropsch). Pyrolysis. Electrochemical conversions.
   4. Biological systems for CO₂ valorisation

Laboratory experiences:

1. CO₂ absorption in reactive liquid using a bubble contactor and a membrane contactor
2. CO₂ adsorption in solid materials
3. CO2 conversion and usage reaction (reverse water gas shift reaction)

Based on the objectives described, the teaching contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals of the ONU 2030 Agenda:

• Goal 4: Quality education;
• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls;
• Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all;
• Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable;
• Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns;
• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The following supporting texts are suggested, limited to the contents covered in the teaching:

S.A. Rackley, Carbon Capture and Storage, Elsevier, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2015-0-01587-8.

M. Goel, M. Sudhakar, R.V. Shahi, eds., Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilization, CRC Press, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429059117.

B.M. Bhanage, M. Arai, eds., Transformation and Utilization of Carbon Dioxide, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-44988-8.

J.A. Moulijn, M. Makkee, A.E. Van Diepen, Chemical Process Technology, 2nd edition, Wiley, 2013

M. Aresta, A. Dibenedetto, The Carbon Dioxide Revolution, Springer, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59061-1.

G. Centi, S. Perathoner, Green Carbon Dioxide, Wiley, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118831922.

Supplementary material is provided on request to working students or students with SLD to meet specific needs.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The start of the lessons will be available on the Degree Course website.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is an oral examination conducted by two teachers for a duration of at least 30 minutes.

The exam will begin analysing the reports prepared on the laboratory experiences and then it will proceed with a discussion on the theoretical aspects of CCUS.

During the calendar year, seven exam dates are set up within the time intervals scheduled by the Manifesto degli Studi.

For students with disabilities or with SLD, the examination methods refer to the specific regulations of the University of Genova (https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Goal of the assessment is to verify the student’s understanding of the principal issues related to CO₂ emissions and management, as well as the main technologies that have been developed for CO₂ capture, storage and utilization. Moreover, use of the specific terminology will be verified.

Otherwise, the student is invited to deepen his preparation also by taking advantage of further explanations by the teacher before repeating the exam.

For students with disabilities or with Learning Disability (DSA), the examination methods are consistent with the University regulations for the conduct of the exams (https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa).

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.