CEM - Abstract

Abstract Information :

There are still considerable knowledge gaps surrounding the metrology of amine-based technologies utilised in CCUS settings, whereby there are no documentable reference methods for sampling and monitoring readily available. Encompassed within an R&D project we have focused our research on the basic physicochemical properties and behaviour of amines and nitrosamines, and their impact on the development and validation of CCUS methods. Our research illustrates the anticipated difficulties which arise through sampling and measuring nitrosamines’ emissions due to their mentioned complex physicochemical properties and behaviours. The theoretical aspects are comprised of the most relevant nitrosamines expected to be found in CCUS environments, while the experimental work is based on a select group of those. We will also discuss the use of periodic monitoring methods for monitoring CCUS emissions. Through a literature review significant variations in the values of physical and chemical properties assigned to each chemical were found, some differing by orders of magnitude. This has a potential impact on the interpretation of the nitrosamines’ behaviour and on the development of sampling methodologies. We discuss the possible origin of these discrepancies and develop strategies to avoid these ambiguous values among the original large data set. These strategies are based on well-known physics/chemistry and through simple statistics. The selected or amended values for the studied nitrosamines are presented. Amongst the list of nitrosamines being studied it was found that relevant parameters, such as solubilities and volatilities, cover a significantly wide range. When combined with the differences in chemical reactivity, this resulted in the need to classify the nitrosamines into several groups which demonstrate substantial behavioural diversity. This behavioural diversity would result in each nitrosamine group exhibiting varied emissions dispersion profile’s and requires further investigation. Preliminary analysis of measurements on lab-made synthetic nitrosamine samples having undergone a variety of handling and storage conditions demonstrate the extent of some of the problems previously discussed. Most probable issues and foreseeable scenarios are summarised, contributing to the development of the sampling and monitoring methods required for CCUS technologies.