Distributed Hydrogen Production with Profitable Carbon Sequestration

Distributed Hydrogen Production with Profitable Carbon Sequestration: A Novel Integrated Sustainable System for Clean
Fossil Fuel Emissions and a Bridge to the New Hydrogen Economy and Global Socio-Economic Stability
Danny M. Day, Eprida, Inc., 6300 Powers Ferry, Suite 307, Atlanta, Georgia
danny.day@eprida.com, 404-228-8687
Robert J. Evans, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Co
James W. Lee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Introduction and Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion directly contribute to ris ing atmospheric CO2 levels, which in turn are likely linked to global climate change. The need for efficient and economical technologies to rapidly sequester point source production of carbon dioxide has become both an urgent and widespread technical need. The significant adoption of any mitigation technology requires a measurable return to end-users. An example is coupling enhanced oil recovery (EOR) with deep well injection of CO2, though to be economically viable, the carbon dioxide source must be co-located with the oil fields. We propose an integrated sequestration approach in which agricultural waste products are used to produce hydrogen, a renewable fuel, and a carbon sequestering soil amendment (char) as a valuable co-product. The dual function char, derivitized with ammonium bicarbonate (2NH4HCO3) (“ABC”) obtained from treating power plant CO2 emissions, acts both as an enriched carbon, organic slow release fertilizer and a long-lived carbon storage medium in soils or ECOSS™.

This project had the following objectives:
?To verify a hydrogen co-product could be produced that would offer sufficient value for high volume application
?Test a simply production process that would allow the co-product to be produced from the exhaust of fossil fuel
combustion,
?Analyze the material for characteristics needed of a large volume co-product.
The ammonium bicarbonate technology, developed through the collaboration of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Eprida Scientific Carbons, Inc. (E-SCI), operates at ambient temperature and pressure and does not require carbon dioxide separation or energy intensive compression. Chars generated from agricultural waste pyrolysis have been derivitized with the ammonium bicarbonate. This research provides results that point toward the utilization as a time-release fertilizer while concurrently sequestering stable charcoal in soils and producing an excess of hydrogen. This hydrogen manufacturing and sequestration strategy utilizes the largest existing market for hydrogen (i.e. the production of fertilizer) and leverages the existing farm fertilizer infrastructure to restore soil carbon lost by erosion and extensive tillage. An ancillary benefit of this process is the accrual of carbon credits from capturing power plant emissions, producing a long-lived carbon soil amendment, and enhancing plant growth. If this integrated strategy ultimately proves successful, then the agricultural sector can play an inte gral role in developing the hydrogen economy and restore soil carbon, sequestering vast amounts of carbon, while increasing available nitrogen and sustained natural sequestration will
occur through enhanced plant growth. Implementation could allow hydrogen production to work synergistically with fossil fuel emission reductions. A global economic stimulus is possible through profitable sequestration, increased farm productivity, local energy production, rural income opportunities, small business development and offer hope for a positive and sustainable future.

Distributed Hydrogen Production with Profitable Carbon Sequestration: A Novel Integrated Sustainable System for Clean Fossil Fuel Emissions and a Bridge to the New Hydrogen Economy and Global Socio-Economic Stability
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