Meeting emissions standards in CO₂ capture

Waste-to-energy facilities using amine-based solvents for CO₂ capture face challenges due to potential emissions of solvent and degradation products. To address this, a pilot project at ARC monitors emissions and tests the influence of various plant operation parameters to reach the lowest possible levels.

Real-time waste facility emissions monitoring to detect harmful compounds

The project uses Proton Transfer Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) to detect ultra-low concentrations (sub ppb) of potentially harmful compounds, such as nitrosamines, in real time. It is a highly sensitive method for real-time measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other potentially harmful substances. By continuously analysing emissions, PTR-ToF-MS provides a detailed profile of chemical changes, enabling facilities to identify the influence of plant operation parameters on emissions.

Key benefits of PTR-ToF-MS testing technology

The use of PTR-ToF-MS provides several advantages that contribute to more effective and compliant emissions management:

  • Real-time emissions tracking: Measures real-time emissions, enabling ongoing compliance checks.
  • Detection of trace compounds: Identifies harmful by-products like nitrosamines at minimal concentrations.
  • Time-resolved emissions data: Provides a continuous profile of emissions fluctuations, offering insight into emission patterns that standard tests overlook.
  • Supports optimisation: Data enables adjustments to capture processes for improved efficiency without compromising safety or compliance.
We capture CO2
Man looking at a screen
The pilot project takes place in ARC, the Copenhagen waste-to-energy facility Amager Bakke.
 

These benefits collectively enhance the ability of waste-to-energy facilities to better manage emissions and align operations with regulatory requirements.

“At ARC, we work to amend our waste-to-energy plant with large-scale amine-based carbon capture. In this quest, we and the permitting authorities need more knowledge about emission control to provide a solid foundation on which to set up an operational regulation. By participating in the ACCEPT project, we hope to get a better understanding of the correlations between operation and emissions,” says Jonas Nedenskov, Environmental Manager at ARC.

Two women with helmets
"By using PTR-TOF-MS technology in this pilot project, we hope to gain critical insights that will support waste-to-energy facilities globally in obtaining the lowest possible emissions and meeting environmental standards," says Christina Andersen, PhD, Specialist in Clean Air Technologies at FORCE Technology.

Building a sustainable model for CO₂ capture through the ACCEPT partnership

This pilot project, initiated through a partnership between ARC, Rambøll, Ørsted, KVA Linth and FORCE Technology, is a core part of the larger ACCEPT programme. ACCEPT (Amine Carbon Capture Energy and Emissions Project for Technology demonstration) is dedicated to advancing safe and efficient CO₂ capture practices across heavy industries, particularly within waste-to-energy facilities. The greater goal of ACCEPT is to perform real-time measurements of gas and particle emissions with state-of-the-art measurement techniques and explore the influence of plant operation parameters on emissions.

Top image courtesy of Hufton&Crow

Two specialists are talking together
Senior Chemistry Specialist Jørgen Nørklit from Ørsted and FORCE Technology Clean Air Technologies specialist Christina Andersen review real-time emissions data at ARC.