• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.460-469
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• 2019

Bacterial ${\alpha}-type$ carbonic anhydrase (${\alpha}-CA$) is a zinc metalloenzyme that catalyzes the reversible and extremely rapid interconversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate. In this study, we report the first crystal structure of a hyperthermostable ${\alpha}-CA$ from Persephonella marina EX-H1 (pmCA) in the absence and presence of competitive inhibitor, acetazolamide. The structure reveals a compactly folded pmCA homodimer in which each monomer consists of a 10-stranded ${\beta}-sheet$ in the center. The catalytic zinc ion is coordinated by three highly conserved histidine residues with an exchangeable fourth ligand (a water molecule, a bicarbonate anion, or the sulfonamide group of acetazolamide). Together with an intramolecular disulfide bond, extensive interfacial networks of hydrogen bonds, ionic and hydrophobic interactions stabilize the dimeric structure and are likely responsible for the high thermal stability. We also identified novel binding sites for calcium ions at the crystallographic interface, which serve as molecular glue linking negatively charged and otherwise repulsive surfaces. Furthermore, this large negatively charged patch appears to further increase the thermostability at alkaline pH range via favorable charge-charge interactions between pmCA and solvent molecules. These findings may assist development of novel ${\alpha}-CAs$ with improved thermal and/or alkaline stability for applications such as $CO_2$ capture and sequestration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.342-351
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• 2014

The present paper investigates the performance of direct wet mineral carbonation technology to fix carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) from relatively high $CO_2$ concentration feeding gas using wollastonite ($CaSiO_3$)-water (and 0.46 M acetic acid) suspension solution. To minimize the energy consumed on the process, the carbonation in this work is carried out at atmospheric pressure and slightly higher room temperature. As a result, carbon fixation is confirmed on the surface of $CaSiO_3$ after carbonation with wollastonite-water suspension solution and its amount is increased according to the $CO_2$ composition in the feeding gas. The leaching and carbonation ratio of wollastonite-water suspension system obtained from the carbonation with 50% of $CO_2$ composition feeding gas is 13.2% and 10.4%, respectively. On the other hand, the performance of wollastonite-acetic acid in the same condition is 63% for leaching and 1.39% for carbonation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.679-689
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• 2009

Light olefins are very important hydrocarbons widely used as the raw materials of the most petrochemicals including plastics and medicines. In addition, the nation's olefin production capacity is regarded as one of the key indicators to predict the nation's economic scale and growth. Steam cracking of naphtha (or called "NCC (Naphtha Cracking Center) technology"), the traditional process to produce light olefins, is one of the most consuming energy processes among the chemical industries. Therefore, this process causes tremendous $CO_2$ emission. To reduce the energy consumption and $CO_2$ emission from NCC process, the present paper, firstly, investigates and analyses some alternative technologies which can be potentially substituted for traditional process. Secondly, applying the alternative technologies to NCC process, their effects such as energy savings, $CO_2$ emission reduction and CER (Certified Emission Reduction) were estimated. It is found that the advanced NCC process can reduce approximately 35% of SEC (Specific Energy Consumption) of traditional NCC process. This effect can lead to the reduction of 3.3 million tons of $CO_2$ and the acquisition of the 128 billion won of CER per year. Catalytic cracking of naphtha technology, which is other alternative processes, can save up to approximately 40% of SEC of traditional NCC process. This value equates to the 3.8 million tons of $CO_2$ mitigation and 147 billion won of CER per year.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.12-19
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• 2015

$CO_2$ is non-flammable, non-toxic gas and not cause of chemical explosion. However, various impurities and some oxides can be included in the captured $CO_2$ inevitably. While the $CO_2$ gas was temporarily stored, the pressure in a storage tank would be reached above 100bar. Therefore, the tank could occur a physical explosion due to the corrosion of vessel or uncertainty. Evaluating the intensity of explosion can be calculated by the TNT equivalent method generally used. To describe the physical explosion, it is assumed that the capacity of a $CO_2$ temporary container is about 100 tons. In this work, physical explosion damage in a $CO_2$ storage tank is estimated by using the Hopkinson's scaling law and the injury effect of human body caused by the explosion is assessed by the probit model.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2010

Since carbon dioxide, $CO_2$, was revealed as a major greenhouse gas, techniques for its separation, capture, and storage have received increasing interest in recent years. Aqueous amines are the most widely accepted $CO_2$ absorbents, but they cause the problems such as high regeneration energy, thermal degradation, and loss of absorbents due to their volatility. Ionic liquids having high thermal stability, extremely low vapor pressure, and capability of selectively absorbing specific gases have been proposed as new $CO_2$ capturing solvents which may potentially replace aqueous amines. By reviewing the ionic liquids having capability to absorb $CO_2$ reported in previous papers, we seek to develop a comprehensive understanding on the factors that influence the $CO_2$ solubility in ionic liquids such as their structures, absorption temperature, pressure, water content, etc., and to estimate the potential of ionic liquids as $CO_2$ separating media.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2013

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a mitigation technology essential in tackling global climate change. In Korea, many research projects are aimed to commercialize CCS business around 2020. Public acceptance can be a key factor to affect the successful proceeds of CCS near future. Therefore this paper provides a concise insight into the application of environmental impact assessment and risk assessment procedures to support the sustainable CCS projects. Futhermore, bottlenecks regarding the environmental impacts assessment and related domestic and foreign legislation are revised. Finally, suggestions to overcome these bottlenecks and recommendations for future research are made in conclusion.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2010

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the biologically adverse effect of increased carbon dioxide in seawater on marine bacteria, Vibrio fischeri. We measured the bioluminescence and cell density at every 6 hours for 24 hours of the whole incubation period after exposing test microbes to a range of $CO_2$ concentration such as 380(Control), 1,000, 3,000, 10,000 and 30,000 ppm, respectively. Significant effect on relative luminescence(RLU) of V. fischeri was observed in treatments with $CO_2$ concentration higher than 3,000 ppm at t=12 h. However, the difference of RLU among treatments significantly decreased with the incubation time until t=24 h. Similar trend was observed for the variation of cell density, which was measured as optical density using spectrophotometer. The results showed that a significant relationship between $CO_2$ concentration and bioluminescence of test microbes was observed for the mean time. However, the inhibition of relative bioluminescence and also cell density could be recovered at the concentration levels higher than 3,000 ppm. The dissolved $CO_2$ can be absorbed directly by cell and it can decrease the intracellular pH. Our results implied that microbes might be adversely affected at the initial growing phase by increased $CO_2$. However, they could adapt by increasing ion transport including bicarbonate and then could make their pH back to normal level. Results of this study could be supported to understand the possible influence on marine bacteria by atmospheric increase of $CO_2$ in near future and also by released $CO_2$ during the marine $CO_2$ sequestration activity.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2018

It is imperative to inject carbon dioxide($CO_2$) into an aquifer for alleviating the emission of $CO_2$. However, faults in the aquifer can be reactivated due to pressure increasement. Analyses of pressure change of the aquifer is necessary to prevent the fault reactivation. In this research, we assess the stability of an aquifer in Pohang Yeongil bay by investigating the pressure variation of faults EF1 and EF2. Two scenarios, which repeat $CO_2$ injection and suspension during two years, are simulated. Each scenario includes cases of injection rates of 20, 40, and 100 tons/day. In addition, we analyze planned and predicted injection rates for each case. In case of 20 tons/day, the maximum pressure of faults is 65% of the reactivation pressure. Even if daily injection rates are increased to 40 and 100 tons/day, the maximum pressures are 71% and 80% of the reactivation pressures, respectively. For 20 and 40 tons/day cases, planned injection rates almost accord with predicted injection rates during whole simulation period. On the other hand, predicted injection rates are smaller than planned injection rates for the 100 tons/day case due to bottom-hole pressure limit of the injection well.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.6973-6979
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• 2014

To mitigate global warming and climate change, many countries are investing massively on the development of CCS technology, which is assumed to be the key technology to reduce $CO_2$ emissions. CCS technology is comprised of the capture, transport, and storage processes. During the capture process, impurities other than $CO_2$ are inevitably flowed into the $CO_2$ stream. In the present study, corrosion characteristics of a phosphate coated tube for $CO_2$ transportation was investigated with a $CO_2$ stream composed of $CO_2$, $H_2O$, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$. The test specimen was a phosphate coated steel tube, which was filled with $CO_2$ stream with the impurities mentioned above. SEM-EDS analysis is conducted to investigate the corrosion behavior. The results showed that although the H2O concentration did not exceed the solubility limit, corrosion occurred in the specimen, which has an inflow of $SO_2$ or $NO_2$. This suggests that the $SO_2$, $NO_2$ and $H_2O$ concentration should be strictly controlled. These results suggest that the $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ concentration should be controlled below 175ppm and 65ppm, respectively.