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Highlights • Sizing of paper is carried out using liquid CO 2 as an alternative medium. • Sucrose Octaacetate (SOA) is used as a CO 2 -philic and renewable size compound. • The method is inherently dry and industrially viable. • The SOA-coated surface shows reduced optical reflectance. • The sized paper shows enhanced non-wetting nature and improved mechanical properties. Abstract The development of low cost, non-fluorous, CO 2 -philic materials such as sugar acetates have opened up new opportunities for enabling the utilization of liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2) as a green solvent platform for industrial processes by virtue of the high solubility of these materials in CO 2. In the present work, we report the sizing of paper surface with sucrose octaacetate (SOA) using this alternative solvent system. Characterization of the bare and sized paper samples has been carried out using spectroscopic and surface imaging techniques. The studies reveal a smooth and uniform coating of the surface with SOA. Contact angle measurements and sorption studies show that the SOA-coated paper surface is hydrophobic. The mechanical properties of the SOA-coated paper are observed to be superior to that of the uncoated one. Since the solvent and the size can be completely recycled, this can be developed into an industrially viable green technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Black liquor gasification was coupled with calcium looping. • Calcium looping for CO 2 capture and H 2 production was compared. • CO 2 capture route (39 €/t) was less expensive than H 2 production route (48.8 €/t). • CO 2 avoided cost was highly dependent on capital cost of black liquor gasification. • Export of H 2 had the lowest CO 2 avoided cost among black liquor gasification cases. Although considered one of the major energy-intensive industries (EIIs), the pulp and paper industry has also the potential for energy production from an industrial waste, black liquor. This study proposes black liquor gasification (BLG) coupled with calcium looping (CaL) as a CO 2 capture route for the pulp and paper industry. BLG with H 2 production (BLG-CaL-H 2), BLG with gas turbine combined cycle (BLG-CaL-GT) or with solid oxide fuel cell (BLG-CaL-SOFC) were considered. The dependence of carbon capture and storage (CCS) cost on the natural gas, limestone, electricity imported and H 2 sale prices aside the expenditures related with BLG-CaL were evaluated. The CCS route, based on CaL retrofitted to the pulp and paper plant, was found to have a lower cost of CO 2 avoided (39.0 €/tCO 2) when compared with BLG-CaL (48.8–57.1 €/tCO 2). Between the BLG-CaL scenarios, BLG-CaL-H 2 presented the lowest cost of CO 2 avoided (48.8 €/tCO 2) but the highest energy penalty. Based on the thermodynamic performance, it was shown that CaL retrofit and BLG-CaL-SOFC presented the best overall performance, turning the electricity importer reference plant into electricity exporter. The economic sensitivity showed that the capital requirement of BLG-CaL has a strong effect on the cost of CO 2 avoided for all alternatives. The H 2 production is also strongly affected by the H 2 sale price while BLG-CaL-SOFC and BLG-CaL-GT are strongly dependent on natural gas price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the overall economic and energy consequences of the lignin precipitation process proposed by the Swedish national Eco-Cyclic Pulp Mill research program. The study compared four different bleached kraft pulp model mills, representing greenfield mills with different steam demands and varying surpluses of thermal energy that can be precipitated as lignin. The results suggest that 37%-50% of the lignin in the black liquor must be removed if the thermal energy surplus generated by the model mills is to be exported as lignin. From an energy savings perspective, the most important consequence is that the power balance changes significantly when precipitating lignin, in some cases even leading to a power deficiency in the mill. Other important consequences include an increased live steam demand for evaporation and a decreased load in the recovery boiler. We concluded that it is reasonable from an energy perspective to precipitate lignin in the evaluated model mills. At the given economic conditions, the model mills with lignin precipitation have similar total costs as the model mill without lignin precipitation, if the lignin price is approximately US$ 12/MWh. At today's pricing of biomass fuel, this means that it must be possible to sell the lignin at a higher price than bark to make lignin precipitation interesting from an economic perspective. The lignin price at which the model mills with lignin precipitation have similar total costs as the model mill without lignin precipitation changes with changing economic conditions; the most important parameters are the electricity price and the cost for carbon dioxide (CO2). If the cost for CO2 is eliminated, the lignin price necessary decreases to below US$ 9/MWh, and the possibility to use flue gases instead of pure CO2 for the precipitation must therefore be studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polymerisation of aniline in the presence of pulp was carried out in saturated carbonated water in the place of sulfuric acid for the preparation of a PANI/pulp composite, and a conductive paper sheet was prepared from the composite using the papermaking technique. The surface structure and conductivity were examined. Furthermore, micro-fibre of PANI was prepared using a surfactant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen Economy and Cyclic Economy are advocated, together with the use of perennial (solar, wind, hydro, geo-power, SWHG) and renewable (biomass) energy sources, for defossilizing anthropic activities and mitigating climate change. Each option has intrinsic limits that prevent a stand-alone success in reaching the target. Humans have recycled goods (metals, water, paper, and now plastics) to a different extent since very long time. Recycling carbon (which is already performed at the industrial level in the form of CO 2 utilization and with recycling paper and plastics) is a key point for the future. The conversion of CO 2 into chemicals and materials is carried out since the late 1800s (Solvay process) and is today performed at scale of 230 Mt/y. It is time to implement on a scale of several Gt/y the conversion of CO 2 into energy products, possibly mimicking Nature which does not use hydrogen. In the short term, a few conditions must be met to make operative on a large scale the production of fuels from recycled-C, namely the availability of low-cost: i. abundant, pure concentrated streams of CO 2 , ii. non-fossil primary energy sources, and iii. non-fossil-hydrogen. The large-scale production of hydrogen by Methane Steam Reforming with CO 2 capture (Blue-H 2) seems to be a realistic and sustainable solution. Green-H 2 could in principle be produced on a large scale through the electrolysis of water powered by perennial primary sources, but hurdles such as the availability of materials for the construction of long-living, robust electrochemical cells (membranes, electrodes) must be abated for a substantial scale-up with respect to existing capacity. The actual political situation makes difficult to rely on external supplies. Supposed that cheap hydrogen will be available, its direct use in energy production can be confronted with the indirect use that implies the hydrogenation of CO 2 into fuels (E-fuels), an almost ready technology. The two strategies have both pros and cons and can be integrated. E-Fuels can also represent an option for storing the energy of intermittent sources. In the medium-long term, the direct co-processing of CO 2 and water via co-electrolysis may avoid the production/transport/ use of hydrogen. In the long term, coprocessing of CO 2 and H 2 O to fuels via photochemical or photoelectrochemical processes can become a strategic technology. • Hydrogen Economy and Cyclic Economy are discussed as an option for defossilizing anthropic activities and mitigating climate change. • In the short term, a few conditions must be met to make operative on a large scale the production of fuels from recycled-C. • In the medium-long term, the direct co-processing of CO 2 and water via co-electrolysis may avoid the production/transport/ use of hydrogen. • In the long term, coprocessing of CO 2 and H 2 O to fuels via photochemical or photoelectrochemical processes can become a strategic technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Immobilization of CuO on paper matrices by an ultrafast (5 min) microwave method. • CuO immobilized paper catalyzes the conversion of CO 2 into cyclic carbonates. • Excellent recyclability of the catalyst (98 % efficiency even after 7 cycles). • Environmental catalyst catalyzes notorious CO 2 to products of industrial importance. Paper matrices immobilized with CuO nanoflakes (width 50−100 nm and length upto 200 nm) by an ultrafast (5 min) microwave assisted method have been used as catalyst for the conversion of CO 2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates with almost 100 % yield in 20 h at a comparatively low CO 2 pressure of 4 bar. Additionally, some amount of polycarbonate is also formed. The moderate TON of 121 and excellent recyclability performance (98 % retention of the catalytic activity) even after seven catalytic cycles along with the non-detectable leaching of the CuO from the paper matrices and ease of separation of the catalyst, made the CuO immobilized paper matrices a superior catalyst. The cellulose matrices not only act as a support to immobilize the CuO nanoparticles but also acts as a co-catalyst due to the presence of ample amount of hydroxyl groups in this biodegradable natural polymer. The synergy of cellulose and CuO in the immobilized paper matrices for the formation of the products can be seen as only 7 or 40 % conversion were estimated when only paper matrices or CuO was used as the catalysts, respectively. Moreover, as substrate the paper matrices has shown great potential as the destruction and re-fabrication for five consecutive cycles could hold more than 95 % of the immobilized CuO in the paper matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study provides how to maximize CO2 storage and produce high purity CaCO3. • Ca-ligand stability constant affects the yield, purity, and morphology of CaCO3. • Chelating agent concentration affects the yield, purity, and morphology of CaCO3. • Use of citrate with Log K of 4.7 enables the CaCO3 yield maximized. • Chelating agent with low stability constant produces pure vaterite type CaCO 3. In this paper, we performed an experimental study on how to maximize CO 2 storage, produce high purity CaCO 3 , and control the morphology of CaCO 3 in the process of indirect carbonation using paper sludge ash (PSA) and chelating agents as solvents. To this end, the effects of the Ca-Ligand (Ca-L) stability constant and concentration of chelating agents on the Ca extraction efficiency, carbonation efficiency, and the characteristics of CaCO 3 produced were investigated. For the study, a total of seven chelating agents (fumarate, adipate, malonate, IDA, citrate, NTA, and EDTA) in a wide range of Ca-L stability constant (Log K) of 2.0–12.4 were adopted, and the concentrations of each chelating agent were adjusted to 0.1 and 0.5 M. According to the experimental results, it was revealed that the storage of CO 2 and the yield, purity, and morphology of CaCO 3 could be controlled by adjusting the type (or Ca-L stability constant) and concentration of the chelating agent. The higher the Ca-L stability constant and concentration of the chelating agent, the higher the Ca extraction efficiency, but the lower the carbonation efficiency. The highest CO 2 storage and CaCO 3 production were obtained by using citrate with a Log K value of 4.7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, initiation of nocturnal non-invasive ventilation at home is non-inferior to initiation during a hospital admission.

Purpose: This paper reports a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) to calculate the environmental footprint of a dental appointment using N2O, comparing single-use equipment with reusable equipment. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is used successfully in dentistry to provide sedation and pain relief to anxious patients, most commonly in children. However, N2O is a powerful climate pollutant 298 times more damaging than carbon dioxide over a 100-year estimate. Methods: The functional unit chosen for this LCIA was 30 min delivery of N2O to oxygen in a 50:50 ratio at 6 L per minute flow rate as inhalation sedation to one patient. Two types of equipment were compared to deliver the anaesthetic gas: reusable and disposable items. Results: The use of disposable equipment for N2O sedation produces a significantly larger environmental impact across nearly all of the environmental impact scores, but the overall global warming potential is comparable for both types of equipment due to the vast environmental pollution from N2O itself. Conclusion: N2O sedation is a reliable treatment adjunct but contributes to climate change. Single-use equipment has a further deleterious effect on the environment, though this is small compared to the overall impact of N2O. Dental priorities should be to deliver safe and effective care to patients that protects staff, minimises waste and mitigates impact on the environment alongside promoting research into alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aims at the bioinspired synthesis of SnO 2 NPs, labeled as SnO 2 (bio) NPs using S. edule fruit. A mechanistic route of synthesis of SnO 2 NPs from its inorganic precursor has been proposed herewith. Carbon paper decorated SnO 2 (bio) NPs and its calcined counterpart SnO 2 (bio)- 800 NPs (800 °C) were employed for electrochemical CO 2 reduction. Both SnO 2 (bio) NPs and SnO 2 (bio)- 800 NPs were active towards CO 2 to formate (HCOO−) as the single product, in the liquid phase of 0.5 M KHCO 3 aqueous electrolyte and the maximum faradaic efficiency reached to 75.6–84.0%, respectively for 1 h of the chronoamperometric test. The predominant crystalline (110) facet in SnO 2 (bio)- 800 NPs might have caused a significant boost in faradaic efficiency for formate formation. [Display omitted] • Development of a tunable bioinspired process of SnO 2 NPs synthesis. • Mechanism of formation of SnO 2 NPs mediated by plant-based analyte. • SnO 2 NPs electrocatalyzed CO 2 conversion to HCOO with high Faradaic efficiency. • Selective HCOO formation because of highly crystalline (110) facet in SnO 2 NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction in the consumption of operational (primary) energy and emissions of harmful gases has recently become the focus of attention of the civil engineering sector. In this context, there is also emphasized the energy consumption and emission production values associated with the whole life cycle of the construction materials used, which is referred to as "bundled energy consumption" and "bundled emissions". This paper analyses the energy performance certificates in combination with the SBToolCZ methodology. Sustainability Building Tool is a methodology designed to assess the sustainability of buildings. This methodology is used to assess the environmental impact of buildings at different stages of their life cycle, such as production, operation and demolition of the building. The amount of carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide produced during the life cycle of buildings was determined by analysing and extending the building assessment data by the SBToolCZ methodology, which was subsequently valued and incorporated into the lifetime costs. The data from 17 case studies from the Czech environment were analysed. Taking these environmental impacts into account, valuing them and analysing the cash flows of investors and society shows the importance of paying increased attention to sustainable construction and reducing its negative impact on the environment and climate. Research data shows that 30% of the operating costs of buildings are the societal costs associated with CO 2,eqv. and SO 2,eqv. production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoelectrochemical conversion of CO 2 into valuable products represents an attractive method to decrease the external electrical bias required in electrochemical approaches. In this work, TiO 2 nanoparticles with enhanced optical properties, large surface area, appropriate morphology, and superior crystallinity are synthesized in supercritical medium to manufacture light-responsive photoanodes. The photoelectrochemical CO 2 reduction tests are carried out in continuous mode using a photoanode-driven filter-press cell illuminated with UV LED lights (100 mW cm-2), consisting on TiO 2 nanoparticles synthesized in supercritical medium (3 mg cm-2) supported onto porous carbon paper as the photoanode, a Cu plate cathode, and 1 M KOH aqueous solution as the reaction medium. The main products obtained from CO 2 are ethylene in the gas phase, together with methanol in the liquid phase. The results show that reaction performance is improved under UV irradiation towards ethylene (r = 147.4 μmol m−2 s−1; FE = 46.6%) and methanol (r = 4.72 μmol m−2 s−1; FE = 15.3%) in comparison with the system performance in the dark (ethylene: r = 24.2 μmol m−2 s−1 and FE = 38.2%; methanol not detected), which can be mainly ascribed to the superior photocurrent densities reached that affect the selectivity of the reaction. Besides, the maximum solar-to-fuels values achieved for ethylene (5.4%) and methanol (1.9%) are markedly superior to those observed with illuminated TiO 2 -P25 photoanodes under the same reactor configuration and experimental conditions (3.7% and 1%, respectively). Therefore, these results demonstrate the benefits of using TiO 2 -based materials synthesized in supercritical medium for a more efficient continuous photoelectroreduction of CO 2 to value-added products. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decades increased use of waste paper as a source of fibre for the pulp and paper production process has meant that the industry has undergone significant changes in material and energy use. However, this means use of technologies that do not generate a significant amount of biomass for energy recovery, and thus requires that more energy is purchased by the industry. If waste paper is incinerated instead of repulped, energy purchases by society can be reduced, which will have a positive effect on CO2 emissions. In this article, we argue that an analysis of these effects requires a systems analytical approach including the different production lines, fibre flows and alternative uses of the fibre rather than a life cycle analysis with allocation methods. In the latter case, one often looks at just one production process and uses allocation methods for in- and outflow from or to other processes. We show that allocation methods sometimes used in life cycle analyses do not give a good approximation. Thus, it is recommended that allocation be avoided by, for example, expanding the system. If allocation cannot be avoided, the allocation should be based on the way in which the inputs and outputs are changed by quantitative changes in the products or functions delivered by the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric chemical composition affects foliar chemical composition, which in turn influences the dynamics of both herbivory and decomposition in ecosystems. We assessed the independent and interactive effects of CO2 and O3 fumigation on foliar chemistry of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera) at a Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) facility in northern Wisconsin. Leaf samples were collected at five time periods during a single growing season, and analyzed for nitrogen, starch and condensed tannin concentrations, nitrogen resorption efficiencies (NREs), and C:N ratios. Enriched CO2 reduced foliar nitrogen concentrations in aspen and birch; O3 only marginally reduced nitrogen concentrations. NREs were unaffected by pollution treatment in aspen, declined with O3 exposure in birch, and thisdecline was ameliorated by enriched CO2. C:N ratios of abscised leaves increased in response to enriched CO2 in both tree species. O3 did not significantly alter C:N ratios in aspen, although values tended to be higher in +CO2+O3 leaves. For birch, O3 decreased C:N ratios underambient CO2 and increased C:N ratios under elevated CO2. Thus, under the combined pollutants, the C:N ratios of both aspen and birch leaves were elevated above the averaged responses to the individual and independent trace gas treatments. Starch concentrations were largely unresponsive to CO2 and O3treatments in aspen, but increased in response to elevated CO2 in birch. Levels of condensed tannins were negligibly affected by CO2 and O3 treatments in aspen, but increased in response to enriched CO2 in birch. Results from this work suggest that changes in foliar chemical composition elicited by enriched CO2 are likely to impact herbivory and decomposition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-combustion capture (PCC) of CO 2 from fossil fuel-fired power station flue gas is one of many technologies that are being developed to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in the medium term. Wet-gas scrubbing using aqueous amines is currently the most mature PCC technology suitable for separating CO 2 from coal-fired power station flue gases. In this study, a series of twelve samples of a degraded 30% (w/w) MEA absorbent were obtained over a six month pilot scale PCC campaign at a brown coal-fired power station in Australia. These samples were used to investigate the accumulation of heat-stable salts, inorganics and minerals. The heat-stable salts concentration increased from 0.80 to 2.29% (w/w, as MEA) and organic acids from the oxidative degradation of MEA were the largest component of heat-stable salts. Acid gases such as SO x and NO x , make-up water, ultra-fine fly-ash and corrosion were all sources of the minerals and inorganics that accumulated in the aqueous MEA absorbent. Corrosion was the single biggest contributor of transition metals and the abrupt change in ratios of Fe, Cr and Mo suggests that the dominant corrosion mechanism may have changed towards the end of the campaign. The rapid accumulation of minerals and inorganics during this PCC campaign highlights the importance of continuing research into the interactions between amine absorbents and inorganic or mineral contaminants. The data presented in this study are an important resource for design of laboratory scale experiments to investigate these physical and chemical interactions between aqueous amines, minerals and inorganics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, the primarily human-caused rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system, is referred to as global warming. In this paper a non-linar mathematical model is proposed and analysed to study the effect of global warming global warming temperature on the transmission dynamics of vector borne diseases. In modeling the process, the total host population is divided into subclasses of susceptible host and infective host; and the vector population is divided into subclasses of susceptible vector and infective vector. The model is analysed using the stability theory. The analysis of model shows that as the temperature due to global warming increases, the vector population as well as the infective host population is increased. The rise in Infective host population results in the fast spread of vector borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions and climate change risk have become constraints on global economic sustainable development. Environmental regulation (ER) is a key method for achieving synergy in CO 2 and pollution reduction in China. This paper is the first study to explore the effects of ER on CO 2 emissions by exploiting the National Environmental Protection 11th Five-Year Plan (NEP11-FYP). The implementation of the NEP11-FYP significantly decreases CO 2 emissions by 19.73% in key environmental cities relative to other cities. Heterogeneity analyses suggest that this negative impact is larger in western cities and cities with more pressure to reduce CO 2 emissions. Scale effects, structural effects, and technical effects might be three potential influencing channels through which ER contributes to the CO 2 reduction effect. In addition, the results of the spatial externality of the NEP11-FYP demonstrate a positive spillover effect in neighboring cities within a distance of 300 km and a negative spillover effect in cities more than 500 km away. Our empirical findings provide policy implications for implementing low-carbon transition strategies and reducing CO 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effect of the operating parameters of a sweetening unit on CO 2 recovery efficiency has been studied and evaluated. • An equation relating the studied operating parameters and their interaction with CO 2 recovery efficiency was modeled. • Numerical optimization in Design Expert program is used to achieve the goal of maximizing CO 2 recovery efficiency. Amine processes are the advanced technology available today for the removal of carbon dioxide (CO 2) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) acid gases. Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) is a well-known tertiary amine used selectively for the removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas. There are many parameters that can affect the efficiency of separating these acid gases from natural gas. In this paper, we have studied, modeled, and optimized different operating parameters of sour gas feed and MDEA solution which affect the CO 2 recovery efficiency from an existing sweetening unit. These operating parameters are the sour gas feed temperature and pressure, volume ratio (%) of carbon dioxide in the feed gas, amine inlet temperature, and amine circulation rate. Actual data were collected from an industrial CO 2 sweetening unit over one year. These data were used to study the effect of the studied operating parameters on the recovery efficiency of CO 2 from the sweetening unit. All studied operating parameters were found to have an impact on the recovery efficiency of the removed gases. A response surface methodology approach was used in Design-Expert software version 13 to model the relationship between considered operating parameters and CO 2 recovery efficiency. In addition, Design Expert numerical optimization has been used to maximize CO 2 recovery efficiency. The results showed that the optimal range of sour gas feed temperature is 34.71 to 45.56 °C, sour gas feed pressure is 8.32 to 10.04 barg, the volume ratio (%) of carbon dioxide in the sour gas feed is 8.51 to 10.15, the temperature of the amine is 38.03 to 43.96 °C, and the amine circulation rate is 788.39 to 1122.35 m3/h. The presented work can be considered as a guideline for increasing the recovery efficiency of CO 2 for both new and existing sweetening units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Metal-organic ligand capped Cu 2 O NPs synthesis using analytes present in Sechium edule. • Cu 2 O NPs reduced charge transfer resistance by 98 %. • Elucidated mechanism of formation of Cu 2 O NPs and metal-organic intermediates leading to capping of NPs. • Cu 2 O NPs electrocatalyzed CO 2 reduction to HCOO− and improved product specificity. • Bio-inspired and chemically synthesized Cu 2 O NPs exhibited similar Faradaic efficiency in CO 2 reduction. Efficient electrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 to value-added chemicals is a promising and challenging task as well. In fact, synthesis of low-cost electrocatalysts in an environmentally benign process is the need of the hour. Bioactive compounds including polyphenols, reducing sugars, and ascorbic acid (AA) present in different plant organs are proven competent in reducing metal ions to their lower or zero oxidation states. The present study focuses on the synthesis of Cu 2 O NPs using the bioactive compounds present in Sechium edule fruit. The mechanistic pathways for the understanding of the formation of the face-centred cubic Cu 2 O NPs (37.5−42 nm) and metal-organic (intermediates) ligand leading to the development of its stabilizing cap are investigated in details. Cu 2 O NPs were decorated on the Toray carbon paper electrode. The modified electrodes could decrease the charge transfer resistance by 50 folds and catalyze the electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction to HCOO‾, a sole liquid product in 0.5 M KHCO 3 electrolyte with a faradaic efficiency of 65.3–66.6 % within 60 min as the existence of predominant Cu 2 O (111) NPs could be responsible for selective formation of formate. Nevertheless, Cu 2 O underwent oxidation to CuO after 100 voltammetric cycles which was resulted in declining CO 2 reduction reaction rate. The stability of Cu 2 O NPs and its delamination from the electrode surface was also studied in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, based on the panel data of 284 Chinese prefecture level and above cities span 2010 to 2019, systematically investigated the relationship between digital economy and air pollution, with introducing difference-in-differences model, mediating effect model, and spatial difference-in-differences model, as well as treating the "National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Area" policy as a quasi natural experiment. Finally, results show that:(1) Digital economy does negatively affect air pollution, in particular the industrial dust, followed by industrial sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. All these benchmark results have withstood the robustness test. (2) Almost all the mediating roles of industry structure upgrading, industry intensive development, and online life in the relationship between digital economy and air pollution have been confirmed, except it is partly absent in the digital economy-industrial dust nexus and the digital economy-industrial sulfur dioxide linkage. (3) Negative spatial spillover effect is evident between digital economy and air pollution, regardless of involving the neighboring pilot cities or the non pilot cities. (4) The passive air pollution effect of digital economy varies with the regional distribution, administrative scale, marketization level, and government competitiveness. All these findings shed new lights on government intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wetlands have exacerbated global warming, attracting worldwide attention. However, the research process and development trends in this field remain unknown. Herein, 1865 papers related to wetlands GHG emissions published from January 2000 to December 2023 were selected, and CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used for bibliometric analysis to visually analyze the publications distribution, research authors, organizations and countries, core journal and keywords, and discussed the research progress, trends and hotspots in the fields. Over the past 24 years, the research has gone through three phases: the "embryonic" stage (2000–2006), the accumulation stage (2007–2014), and the acceleration stage (2015–2023). China has played a pivotal role in this domain, publishing the most papers and working closely with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Australia. In addition, this study synthesized 311 field observations from 123 publications to analyze the variability in GHG emissions and their driving factors in four different types of natural wetlands. The results suggested that the average carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4), and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) fluxes in different wetlands were significantly different. River wetlands exhibited the highest GHG fluxes, while marsh wetlands demonstrated greater global warming potential (GWP). The average CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O fluxes were 60.41 mg m−2·h−1, 2.52 mg m−2·h−1 and 0.05 mg m−2·h−1, respectively. The GWP of Chinese natural wetlands was estimated as 648.72 Tg·CO 2 -eq·yr−1, and CH 4 contributed the largest warming effect, accounting for 57.43%. Correlation analysis showed that geographical location, climate factors, and soil conditions collectively regulated GHG emissions from wetlands. The findings provide a new perspective on sustainable wetland management and reducing GHG emissions. [Display omitted] • A 24-year bibliometric analysis of GHG emissions from wetlands was conducted. • The historical evolution and future trends in the field were summarized. • River wetlands exhibited the highest GHG fluxes. • GWP of China's wetlands was estimated to be 648.72 Tg·CO 2 -eq·yr−1. • CH 4 emissions contribute 57.43% to the GWP value in China's wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel methodology for variable flow CO 2 pipeline design optimisation. • Utilises logit-normal distribution to describe variable flow scenarios. • Methodology is validated for different flow rates and transport lengths. • Oversized pipeline diameter minimises unitised transport cost. • Oversized design yields lower cost compared to buffer tanks. Pipeline transport has emerged as the most cost-effective method for transporting CO 2 onshore. The CO 2 flow rate is a key factor driving transport costs, underscoring the need to understand the impact of flow rate variability in CO 2 pipeline networks on their design and economics. This paper presents an optimal pipeline design methodology for CO 2 pipelines operating under variable flow that considers the probability distribution of CO 2 flow rate and the pipeline length. The results imply that pipelines designed for optimal performance under variable flow rates often demand a higher level of overdesign compared to pipelines intended for steady-state conditions. Decision-makers must balance the trade-offs between pipeline oversizing and installing multiple pressure boosting stations, especially applicable to large transportation distances and projects of extended duration. The examination of different approaches to pipeline design reveals that a variable flow pipeline design based on mean flow rate is not recommended, because it is incapable of handling the maximum flow rate. This drawback is overcome by adopting the variable flow stochastic pipeline design presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence on fossil fuels is the primary cause of the increased carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere that have resulted in drastic global climate changes due to greenhouse effects and associated global warming. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a multidisciplinary technology that is gaining momentum in the quest to mitigate the effects of CO 2 emissions. In this paper, we review the current status of research pertinent to the geomechanical modeling of CO 2 sequestration and highlight the key research accomplishments, unresolved problems, and pending challenges and opportunities. The paper begins with a brief overview of the geological sequestration process and then proceeds to review the main aspects of geomechanical modeling, including different numerical methods for modeling the reservoir pressure, ground uplift due to pressure buildup, caprock fault reactivation, carbon dioxide leakage, and induced seismicity. The effects of the number and distribution of injection and production wells on the pore pressure buildup are discussed. Finally, a topical overview of monitoring techniques for stored carbon dioxide is presented. [Display omitted] • Geomechanical modeling of sequestration sites is essential to ensure stability and safety of the deep geological reservoirs. • The effectiveness of a CO 2 storage geomechanical model is mainly dependent on the choice of numerical method. • Geomechanical modeling monitors the injection induced stress changes, reactivation of existing faults, and ground uplift. • The injected CO 2 should be monitored using various satellite, surface and subsurface techniques to avoid any possible leakage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betula papyrifera trees were exposed to elevated concentrations of CO2 (1.4 × ambient), O3 (1.2 × ambient) or CO2 + O3 at the Aspen Free-air CO2 Enrichment Experiment. The treatment effects on leaf surface characteristics were studied after nine years of tree exposure. CO2 and O3 increased epidermal cell size and reduced epidermal cell density but leaf size was not altered. Stomatal density remained unaffected, but stomatal index increased under elevated CO2. Cuticular ridges and epicuticular wax crystallites were less evident under CO2 and CO2 + O3. The increase in amorphous deposits, particularly under CO2 + O3, was associated with the appearance of elongated plate crystallites in stomatal chambers. Increased proportions of alkyl esters resulted from increased esterification of fatty acids and alcohols under elevated CO2 + O3. The combination of elevated CO2 and O3 resulted in different responses than expected under exposure to CO2 or O3 alone. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The authors present a review paper that addresses the cardiac component of shock and its definition. We reviewed the concepts of oxygen delivery and consumption and approached the evaluation of these complex patients through measures that obviated the need for pulmonary artery catheters or PICCO monitoring. Hence, this review will briefly explain the concepts of oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, oxygen extraction ratio, mixed venous saturation, lactate, mixed venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide (CO2) tension difference, and echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac output. We aimed to clarify such concepts and provide a systematic approach to evaluate this population and surrogates for cardiac output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thousands of clinical trials are conducted globally each year. Yet, little is known about their environmental impact. This paper presents the results of a high-level literature review of the carbon footprint of clinical trials. Five papers were identified and their contents summarised qualitatively. All papers were authored by UK researchers. Carbon footprint metrics from 14 trials were presented in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). Emissions were broken down by three broadly defined clinical trial activities: operations, travel, and supplies. Recommen - dations for carbon reduction are discussed. The review showed a dearth of publications on greenhouse gas emissions generated by clinical trials. More work in this area is needed to achieve sustainable, low carbon clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper presents critical perspective of the DFI research technique. • Presented empirical data may modify the findings formulated by other researchers of communicating about CC(U)S. • The analysed argumentation is based on presenting the innovative usage of captured CO2 as a cushion for stored natural gas. The paper presents the results of deliberative group interviews with the representatives of local communities in West Pomeranian Province (Poland) on the opportunities and challenges related to the theoretical location of combined CO 2 and natural gas underground storage (CC(U)S and UGS) in their immediate vicinity. The research has been conducted within AGaStor Project that focuses on innovative usage of captured CO 2 as a cushion for stored natural gas. Therefore, there are two possible benefits: active limitation of CO 2 emissions (Poland is and will be dependent on conventional energy sources) and reduction of gas storage costs (by using waste CO 2 as so-called cushion gas). However, previous experiences in these types of projects show the key role of local public opinion in the final shape of the investment. CC(U)S projects are usually located in less developed, less populated areas, with smaller, more rural local communities facing serious socio-economic challenges. This is the case presented in this paper. In such communities, socially expressed uncertainty and dissent are mechanisms of emancipation and articulating community's subjectivity, and a strategy for articulating fears of distrust and inadequacy of empowerment. The presented results of the research lead to four significant mechanisms of building trust for CC(U)S and UGS in West Pomeranian Province communities: a) communicating safety, b) communicating the lack of nuisances, c) communicating the benefits and d) transparent and competent knowledge transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Step-by-step procedure to develop the tabulation and map component of UIC class VI permit. • Qualitative risk assessment methodology for all types of wells within AoR penetrating the confining zones. • Highlights the need for crossflow modelling of CO 2 leakage through improperly plugged wells. • Generalized categorization of legacy wells based on geologic penetrations and protections. Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) refers to capturing the anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO 2) at a source followed by injecting and storing it safely in the subsurface. The success of the CCS projects therefore heavily relies on how efficiently the confining zones (containment seals) prevent migration of the CO 2 to the surface and/or to the underground sources of drinking water (USDW) through leakage pathways. CCS projects requires drilling of Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI wells for permanent storage of CO 2 in subsurface. Detailed information of all the wells within the Area of Review (AoR) is needed to develop the map and tabulation components of the Class VI well permit application. This paper discusses the generic process that can be used by permit applicants to develop the dataset necessary for preparing the map and tabulation components of the Class VI permit application and perform qualitative risk assessment of all the wells within the AoR. This methodology directs the corrective action plans as well as monitoring plans to some extent. Results of the application of the newly developed methodology for wells in Illinois basin is discussed in detail. This methodology can be applied to all wells including orphaned wells, abandoned wells, active oil and gas wells, stratigraphic wells, disposal wells, etc. This methodology generalized categorization of legacy wells that will help in easier comparison of different CCS projects across the globe. The qualitative risk assessment methodology discussed in this paper is a good starting point for developing crossflow modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lithuanian deep saline aquifers and depleted oil reservoirs are characterized to assess their potential for effective carbon. • Uncertainty management workflow is presented and used for modelling the three saline acquires and one depleted oil field for CO2 storage potential estimatesAssessing the geological storage potential. • Mechanistic modelling approach is used for creating simulation models for assessing the storage potentials in the three saline acquires and one depleted oil field for CO2 storage potential estimates. The need to reduce carbon emissions, via exploring the CO 2 storage potential in the depleted subsurface hydrocarbon and the deep saline aquifers in the Baltic Basin region of Lithuania, is discussed. The paper presents a unique methodology, using multi-deterministic numerical models, for evaluating the CO 2 storage potential of the deep saline aquifers and the depleted hydrocarbon fields of Lithuania. Such an approach has never been presented before for evaluation of Lithuanian subsurface reservoirs for CO 2 storage potential. The paper also explains the limitations of previous estimates of CO 2 storage potential computed for deep saline aquifers in Lithuania and introduces a new study that uses uncertainty quantification principle and numerical modelling to estimate the maximum CO 2 injection and storage potential in the region. Three deep saline aquifers D11 (offshore), Syderiai and Vaskai (on shore) are evaluated along with depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs of Gargzdai residual oil zone. Evaluation estimates presented in this paper suggest a maximum theoretical storage potential in range of 96 –407 Mt. of CO 2 for the three deep saline aquifers and in range of 64–267 Mt. of CO 2 for Gargzdai residual oil zone. Although the primary focus of this paper is on the storage capacity estimation, a high-level analysis of the risks associated with CO 2 injection and storage are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Trapping indices stabilization is lagged as injection period is active. • Greater CO 2 cumulative volume occurs as reservoir pressure is far from caprock fracture pressure. • Larger closures will require pressure management-based brine production to reach theoretical storage capacity. • ML-based CO 2 storage modelling preliminary de-risked saline aquifers lacking numerical models. This paper presents a machine learning (ML) model designed to speed up the appraisal of geologic CO 2 storage sites by predicting the effectiveness in trapping and accommodating CO 2 in saline aquifers. Considering the urgency of de-risking as much geologic CO 2 storage resources as possible to help with CO 2 emission reduction Paris' goal, ML-based reservoir modelling has been documented as proper tool when a faster, good approximate, and less expensive approach is needed to surrogate multiple assessments of storage sites traditionally performed by long-timeframe and multi-stage geologic CO 2 storage numerical modelling approach. In this paper, a case study is presented. It consisted of a dataset comprised of six geologic aquifer parameters (CO 2 residual saturation, horizontal permeability, vertical to horizontal permeability ratio, porosity, brine salinity, and CO 2 flow rate) and elapsed time as input data, and as output data the CO 2 trapping mechanism indices (Solubility Trapping Index, Residual Trapping Index, and Structural Trapping Index) along with the dynamic storage capacity (CO 2 injected volume). Such dataset was used to train and test the artificial neural network (ANN) model. The dataset was generated from thousands of post-processed numerical realizations at several injection periods by applying design of experiment using a synthetic aquifer model derived from the Bunter Sandstone Closure 36 aquifer numerical model, from the Southern North Sea. The ANN architecture designed in Python consisted of 3 hidden layers and 40 nodes and its performance was assessed using the coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean squared error (RMSE). The ANN performance showed accuracies (R2) for training and testing with 96% and 95% of precision respectively. Practical application of the ANN model was successfully implemented to CO 2 storage aquifer sites selected from CO2Stored® database which lacking numerical models (Bunter Closure 3, 9, 35, and 40), obtaining at the end of 100-years injection case a Structural, Residual, and Solubility Trapping Index averaging 83%, 11%, and 6% respectively, with low variation coefficient indicating that trapping indices were predicted properly because aquifers selected for ANN model application have similar structures (dome-like shape) and reservoir properties. In addition, CO 2 injected volume predictions for 100-years injection case were ranging from 397 to 456 million ton (Mt) totalling 2.1 giga ton (Gt) of potential storage capacity which represents 70% of total theoretical volumetric capacity. These results show the significant impact to accelerate geologic CO 2 storage sites assessment by implementing ML-based modelling to preliminary de-risking groups of saline aquifers and reasonably consider them technically feasible CO 2 storage sites in UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochemical conversion of CO 2 with biomass to CO in fluidized bed gasifiers is promising for a sustainable carbon economy. Knowledge about this process is expanded by investigating experimental parameters influencing CO 2 conversion in such a system and combining them to demonstrate effective conversion. Wood char and CO 2 are fed to a lab-scale gasifier in 53 semi-continuous experiments. Six experimental parameters are varied: temperature, bed material type, initial bed-to-fuel ratio, initial fuel loading in the reactor, feed CO 2 flow rate, and fuel particle size. The results are compiled in a semi-empirical model based on reaction kinetics. High temperatures and high fuel-gas contact times are favorable for increasing CO 2 conversion, with the latter achieved through high initial fuel loadings in the reactor and low feed gas flow rates. Choosing olivine instead of silica sand as a bed material also results in higher CO 2 conversions. The highest CO 2 conversion demonstrated in this paper is 86.1%. This experiment produces a gas with 82.75% CO, 10.01% H 2, and 5.90% CO 2 (nitrogen-free and dry). [Display omitted] • CO 2 gasification is demonstrated to convert 86% of CO 2 in a fluidized bed reactor. • Temperature and contact time of CO 2 and biomass strongly influence conversion. • This paper includes 53 experiments and a semi-empirical model for CO 2 conversion. • CO 2 conversion is investigated at low biomass conversions (differential reactor). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the construction of the cascade hydropower stations in the lower reaches of the Yalong River and the ecological environment condition of the river, a medium and long-term optimal dispatching model with the goal of maximizing the power generation benefits of the cascade hydropower stations is established, and the dynamic programming method is used to optimize the solution, so as to obtain the ten-day average maximum power generation of cascade hydropower stations. According to the latest relevant research at home and abroad, it is found that during the power generation process of the hydropower station, the discharge will produce certain greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the delivery process. In this paper, the greenhouse gas emissions existing in the power generation process of cascade reservoirs are considered, and the typical values are selected to calculate the average greenhouse gas (mainly CO 2) emissions from 2001 to 2018, twelve plants with strong carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity and suitable for growing in the basin are selected, and the mitigation and improvement measures of greenhouse gas emissions around the reservoirs in the basin are given. A new research idea is provided for the Yalong River cascade reservoirs to focus on the power generation benefits while reducing the greenhouse gas emission situation to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A crucial and challenging part of the worldwide energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is the decarbonization of the power sector. As governments struggle to pass politically feasible, emission-reducing policies that align with other national and international goals, empirical studies can provide insights for policymakers on the question of whether various approaches to combating climate change have effectively contributed to reducing CO 2 emissions. This paper investigates the effect of several key climate policies that governments have implemented in order to reduce CO 2 emission intensity in the power sector; used in this analysis are newly constructed panel data on 34 OECD countries and the 5 BRICS countries that range from 2000 to 2018. The main findings of this paper suggest that, despite a strong theoretical foundation, the market-based policy tested in this analysis does not display a significant negative effect on CO 2 emission intensity. Technological innovation support-policies and deployment-support policies such as feed-in tariffs for wind power production correlate negatively with CO 2 emission intensity. Feed-in tariffs for solar PV and public environmental R&D expenditure do not indicate a significant effect on emission intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new arrangement of a single flash geothermal power plant with a transcritical carbon dioxide recovery cycle is presented. • Energy analysis and exergy have been performed for both BASIC and recovery performance modes. • The results show that the proposed system in the recovery mode with a net power of 401.40 kW, energy efficiency of 53.6%, and exergy efficiency of 46.32% has been calculated. • Compared to the basic operating mode, the total output values of energy, energy efficiency and exergy efficiency show an increase of 149.9 kW, 2.39% and 12.12%, respectively. The use of new energy sources, such as geothermal energy, is rapidly expanding worldwide, and it is a viable alternative to fossil fuels. This paper proposes a geothermal power generation system (combined single flash geothermal cycle with transcritical carbon dioxide recovery cycle). To improve system performance, a recuperator is used to recover some of the heat loss. The proposed system simulation is performed in EES software and then validated by previous research. The proposed system is analyzed from the perspective of energy and exergy. The effects of the proposed system separator pressure, carbon dioxide turbine inlet pressure and carbon dioxide condenser outlet temperature on energy efficiency, exergy efficiency and system net power output have been investigated. Findings show that the proposed system in recovery mode has a net power output of 401.40 kW, energy efficiency of 53.6 percent, and exergy efficiency of 46.32 percent, which are significantly higher than the basic mode's values of 149.9 kW, 2.39 percent, and 12.12 percent, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The boom of renewable energy has been overshadowed by two problems: the intermittency and volatility of such energy. Largescale complementary energy storage has been required to solve these problems. This paper proposes a compressed CO 2 energy storage system in aquifer (CCES-A), aiming to storage energy efficiently at a low cost. Firstly, the feasibility of compressing CO 2 in the aquifer had been proved through numerical simulation, and the CO 2 compression in the aquifer had been emulated by a wellbore-reservoir coupling model. The operation of the CCES-A had been divided into the establishment stage of the initial airbag, and the cyclic stage of energy storage and release. The proposed wellbore-reservoir coupling model had been applied to analyze the wellhead pressure, energy flow and energy recovery rate of weekly, monthly, and seasonal cycles, as well as the energy recovery efficiency at different injection temperatures. The simulation results showed that under the three cycles, the wellhead pressure increased with the number of cycles. The energy flow and energy recovery efficiency decreased with the growing the number of cycles. The energy recovery became more efficient with the rise of the injection temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-harvest loss of agriproducts is a major issue of concern not only for the farmers but also for the distributors, sellers, and consumers as it significantly affects the economic aspects associated with the large-scale agriproduct industry. This loss is mainly due to the attack of various pathogens, and contact with various chemicals or gases present in the atmosphere such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, etc. leading to a loss of visual appeal, nutritional content, and quality along with a reduction in the shelf life of products. The use of nanotechnology has provided innovative solutions to this problem with the application of nanomaterials such as nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and nano-films in coating, packaging, and diagnostics. This paper highlights the role of nanotechnology to enhance the shelf life, visual appeal, and nutritional value of agriproducts by protecting them from the harmful environment and other agents. In this regard, the in-vivo and in-vitro studies conducted for the antimicrobial potential of nanoparticles have been explored for various pathogens. The use of nano-coatings and nanosensors in active packaging has been discussed. Biodegradable packaging, the need of the hour in the context of environmental issues has also been explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new method for quantitatively monitoring CO 2 saturation in depleted gas reservoirs is proposed. • The ratio of the near detector's neutron capture gamma-ray count rate to the far detector's thermal neutron count rate measured by a four-detector pulsed neutron logging tool can effectively differentiate between CO 2 and CH 4. • The new method has higher CO 2 sensitivity compared to conventional count ratio methods. With favorable trap conditions and comprehensive infrastructure, depleted gas reservoirs create ideal spaces for the economic and efficient storage of carbon dioxide (CO 2). Accurate monitoring of CO 2 saturation is important for understanding CO 2 storage efficiency and distribution status. This paper proposes a new method for the quantitative monitoring of CO 2 saturation in CO 2 sequestration projects within depleted gas reservoirs. The new method uses the ratio of the near detector's neutron capture gamma-ray count rate to the far detector's thermal neutron count rate (RCN) measured by a four-detector pulsed neutron logging tool. In this paper, the RCN responses for different CO 2 saturation levels are studied using the Monte Carlo method, and the methods for roughly and accurately calculating CO 2 saturation are given. Moreover, the effects of formation factors such as lithology, clay mineral content, bound water salinity, and borehole environment on the RCN response are studied. Finally, the applicability of the RCN method is verified through a simulation example. The results show that the RCN method not only has high CO 2 sensitivity, but it also can accurately determine CO 2 saturation in depleted gas reservoirs and control the error of CO 2 saturation calculation within 2%. This study offers robust technical support for the evaluation of CO 2 saturation in depleted gas reservoirs. In addition, the proposed method has been proved applicable in the evaluation of CO 2 saturation in low-porosity reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CCUS development among EU countries with the latest progress in the field. • Realization of EGD targets with CCUS technology in EU. • Applicability of benchmarking method to compare environmental profiles. • UK and the Netherlands are among top countries with rapid CCUS development. • Poland and Germany with a high level of difficulty in achieving the EGD targets. Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is a technology highlighted as one of the tools in climate change mitigation and one of the ways to reach the goal of 1.5℃ set by the Paris Agreement. The European Commission (EC) developed this goal by creating and implementing the European Green Deal (EGD) – the European Union's (EU) environmental policy. This paper provides an analysis of environmental policies and an overview of crucial CCUS projects of selected member states based on a benchmarking analysis of 27+ UK member states. An overall review of a total of 28 countries was undertaken based on economic and environmental factors. Afterward, a benchmarking analysis was performed ranking the countries according to the TOP10 for the selected five categories: total net emissions with international transport, percentage share of the energy sector, percentage share of fossil fuels, percentage share of fossil fuels in the Gross Electricity Production (GEP), and numbers of CCUS projects. Subsequently, a detailed and comprehensive overview of four selected member states was done, with a special focus on the national energy policy towards net-zero emission goals, the role of CCUS in domestic environmental policy, with current projects and facilities development. Finally, this paper outlines how the EGD has reformed the national energy policies of selected member states, and what is the part of CCUS technology in the national efforts towards climate neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

System modelling efforts have shown that carbon capture is a key technology to enable a cost-effective reduction of hard-to-abate emissions in energy-intensive industries. The CO 2 that is captured can either be utilised (CCU), or stored with carbon capture and storage (CCS). This paper examines the implications of both European carbon pricing mechanisms (ETS I & ETS II) on the level-playing field between CCS and CCU investments. Our contribution is threefold. First, we develop an equilibrium model that enables us to mimic market outcomes under different regulatory conditions. With a numerical case study applied to a fuel production chain, the model confirms that the current ETS regulation can have an adverse effect on CCU uptake. Especially with zero or low ETS II prices a lock-in effect can occur on CCS, potentially prolonging conventional refinery activities. Second, we propose an alternative approach to better integrate CCUS into the EU ETS. Results show that this approach maintains the level-playing field between CCU and CCS, regardless of any carbon price differentials. That results in a closer to Pareto optimal outcome in terms of welfare and emission abatement. Third, we present an analytic analysis to express the CCUS trade-off from a theoretical point of view. This provides generalised and concrete insights into how EU ETS influences the profitability and likelihood of CCUS. Our results help policymakers to gain a better understanding of the impact of ETS regulations on decarbonisation efforts in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We quantify wettability of resedimented clay mudrocks immersed in scCO2 at t ≥ 60 °C and P C O 2 ≥ 25 MPa. • Imbibition results indicate mudrocks remain water-wet to CO2 at typical storage conditions. • Results validate expectations of buoyant CO2 structural trapping by capillary forces. Structural trapping provided by seals is one of the key components of CO 2 geological storage systems. Clay-rich caprocks and fault gouge are expected to be water-wet at supercritical CO 2 conditions and to create a positive capillary pressure P C O 2 − P w > 0 MPa to ensure trapping of buoyant CO 2. This paper presents the results of water imbibition experiments in resedimented clay mudrocks immersed in supercritical CO 2 at temperature T ≥ 60 °C and pressure P C O 2 ≥ 25 MPa. The samples used in this work include kaolinite clay and Anahuac shale from the Gulf of Mexico Coast. Additional validation tests include Berea sandstone and silane-treated Berea sandstone. The results show spontaneous and rapid imbibition of water droplets into resedimented and rock samples initially saturated with wet supercritical CO 2 for all cases. This outcome provides indirect evidence that typical siliciclastic caprock building minerals remain water-wet to CO 2 at typical storage pressure and temperature conditions. The results and analysis indicate that siliciclastic caprock and fault gouge are expected to develop a positive capillary entry and breakthrough pressure to hold buoyant CO 2 by capillary forces. These results validate expectations of buoyant CO 2 structural trapping and field observations from natural analogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]