Challenges and Opportunities
The atmospheric CO2 concentration increased from about 280 to 379 ppmv during the years between 1750 and 2005. The total amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is calculated to be about 2,956 Gt in 2005. The fossil fuels deposit about 4,000 Gt of carbon. Global annual CO2 emissions from fossil fuels were about 26.4 Gt in the period 2000 to 2005. If all the carbon storing in fossil fuels had been emitted into the atmosphere, the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere would increase to 2,265 ppmv.
The CO2 can be separated directly from the flue gas via membrane contactor carbon capture system. This application is important to reduce man-made CO2 emissions.