The life-cycle environmental performance of producing formate via electrochemical reduction of CO2 in ionic liquid. Issue 17 (17th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paulillo, Andrea; Pucciarelli, Martina; Grimaldi, Fabio; Lettieri, Paola
• Is Part Of: Green chemistry. Volume 23:Issue 17(2021)
• Page Start: 6639
• Page End: 6651
• Publication Date: 2021-08-17
• Subjects: Environmental chemistry -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1039/d1gc02306c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9262

Abstract

Abstract : The environmental benefits of producing formate via electrochemical reduction of CO2 are not straightforward when compared with the conventional, fossil-based approach. Abstract : Carbon capture and utilisation provide a means to mitigate climate change caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by delaying carbon emissions via temporary storage in goods. This article presents a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study of a novel process that generates formate via electrochemical reduction of CO2 in ionic liquid. We performed a scenario analysis, covering uncertain parameters like the recycling rate of unreacted reagents and the market price of CO2, and compared the environmental performance of the carbon utilisation system with that of the conventional process, which relies on fossil sources. Inventory data is obtained from a mix of literature sources and commercial LCA databases. Our analysis indicates that (i) the system needs to attain a 99.9% recycling rate to be competitive with the conventional process; (ii) a future negative market price of CO2 would substantially reduce the environmental impacts associated with formate; (iii) there are significant environmental trade-offs between the carbon utilisation system and the conventional process, with the former outperforming the latter in 6/8 out of the 14 impact categories investigated. It should be noted that our results are conservative because inventory data for the electrochemical reduction process is obtained from laboratory experiments.