postcombustion capture

Postcombustion capture is an industrial process designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (CO₂), by separating it from flue gas after fuel has been burned. This technology uses chemical solvents, such as amine-based solvents, to selectively absorb CO₂ from the exhaust gases. The captured CO₂ is then heated to release it from the solvent, compressed into a liquid state, and transported via pipelines for either reuse or underground storage. While this method can be retrofitted to existing power plants, it is costly due to equipment and solvent expenses, and the relatively low concentration of CO₂ in flue gas makes the process expensive. In 2023, postcombustion technologies captured approximately 55 million metric tons of CO₂ globally.12