Zero Emission Coal Power Plant Design Makes Carbon Capture Profitable

[altenergygeek]

Here is a news item I came across that says that a [URL="http://powerplantccs.com/blog/2010/03/zero-emission-coal-power-plant-design-makes-carbon-capture-profitable.html"]new zero emission coal power plant design makes carbon capture profitable[/URL]. Profitable? I thought carbon capture was a cost center. When did it become a revenue (leave alone a profit) center?

"The only raw material required is coal (or natural gas), sodium chloride (salt) and water. The process locks carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) into sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate.

Florida International University (FIU, Miami, Florida) FIU Center for the Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions Director Surendra Saxena developed the system of reactions for a partial sequestration of carbon (CO2 and CO) from coal burning plants and zero emission production of hydrogen and hydrides. The only raw material to be used is salt (sodium chloride, NaCl), coal and water or a metal for the hydride. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) generated from the chloride is used for locking carbon dioxide in sodium carbonate and bicarbonate, according to Saxena in U.S. Patent Application 20100028241

Saxena process also generates hydrogen from the reaction. The reaction takes place in a closed system to achieve zero emission of carbon gases while generating hydrogen from the reaction."

Well, indeed sodium carbonate and bicarbonate do have a market value. And this process is not exactly a revelation...the concept of turning CO2 into mineral carbonates has been doing the rounds for quite a while. What is not clear about this process is the economics of it and whether it is technically feasible to do it on a large scale.