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.
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.