In addition to the expertise accumulated and capitalized upon through the operation of the laboratory, CaO Hellas participates in co-funded European Union research programs, partnering with leading universities, research institutes, and pioneering industries across both Europe and Greece. The main focus of the conducted research is the development of technology addressing the environmentally sensitive issue of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) capture, with the ultimate goal of investing in advanced environmental protection technologies.

Indicative programs include:

1. CAPSOL (Design Technologies for Multi-scale Innovation and Integration in Post-Combustion CO2 Capture: From Molecules to Unit Operations and Integrated Plants) https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/100978/reporting/en

2. ROLLINCAP (Systematic Design and Testing of Advanced Rotating Packed Bed Processes and Phase-Change Solvents for Intensified Post-Combustion CO2 Capture) http://www.rolincap-project.eu/

3. NANOCAP (Capture of CO2 and use for the industrial production of nanoparticles of precipitated calcium carbonate) http://nanocap.cperi.certh.gr/

The research program focused on carbon dioxide capture from energy-intensive industries using a rotating packed bed. It studied the production process of nano-precipitated calcium carbonate (nPCC) and basic magnesium carbonate (BMC), two high added-value products, using the carbonation method. The incentives for developing the technology are summarized as follows: 1. High cost of carbon dioxide emission allowances, 2. Achieving fast carbonation reaction kinetics within the rotating packed bed to reduce the size of production equipment on an industrial scale, 3. Low energy requirement process, 4. High product value. The carbonation process was successfully executed on a laboratory-pilot scale for both materials. High-purity nanoparticles of calcium carbonate (nPCC) and basic magnesium carbonate (BMC) were produced in significant quantities, isolated, and identified. Based on the conclusions of the research project, techno-economic studies were drafted for adapting the nPCC production process to an existing lime industry facility and the BMC production process to an existing magnesia production facility. The participating companies were CaO Hellas Macedonian Lime, Grecian Magnesite, and the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH). The project was funded by the European Union (NSRF) under the EPAnEK 2014 – 2020 / Research – Create – Innovate framework.

4. ANICA (Advanced Indirectly heated Carbonate Looping Process to decrease CO2 capture cost and achieve net negative CO2 emissions) https://act-anica.eu/

Furthermore, CaO Hellas is acquiring experience in the crucial metallurgy sector through its participation in the following research program:

5. ENSUREAL (Sustainable Alumina Production, development of a production process capable of accepting lower grade ores and producing useful byproducts) https://www.ensureal.com/

6. REALCAP (Investigation under realistic conditions of innovative pilot-scale process using phase-change solvents for CO2 capture from quicklime process)

The proposed project aims to evaluate innovative solvent systems and phase-change processes for CO2 capture under realistic exhaust gas compositions from high energy-intensive industries, such as lime product manufacturing. Phase-change systems allow a highly significant reduction in the energy requirements of chemical CO2 absorption systems, dropping from 4 GJ/ton CO2 in conventional solvent systems to 2.0-2.5 GJ/ton CO2. Simultaneously, they enable a reduction in capture costs per ton of CO2 by up to 50%. However, they have only been studied under ideal exhaust gas compositions (CO2/N2), despite the fact that in reality, industrial exhaust gases contain pollutants such as SO2 and NOx. Pollutants can have a significant impact on the economic performance of CO2 capture units as they increase their energy requirements, reducing the capture capabilities of the solvents. At the same time, they significantly affect the observed corrosion, which is already substantial due to amines but has been minimally studied for phase-change solvent systems even without pollutants. In this context, REALCAP is highly innovative, as for the first time, an extensive study will be conducted aiming to ascertain the impact of pollutants. For more information: http://realcap.cperi.certh.gr/, Ενημερωτικό-REALCAP.pdf (caohellas.gr), Operations Update-REALCAP-EN.pdf (caohellas.gr)

7. CoCCUS (Cost-effective CO2 Capture and Utilization from magnesite/lime industry using enzyme boosted K2CO3 Solvents)

In CoCCUS, the objective is the development of CO2 capture technology from the exhaust gases of energy-intensive industries with inherent CO2 emissions resulting from their processes. This utilizes a K2CO3 solution and novel CA enzymes aiming to utilize the pure CO2 for the production of added-value products. Among various options for CO2 utilization, its conversion into proteins useful for food production will be demonstrated, after first producing methanol using hydrogen. In this project, the CaO Hellas Group has included Inventors S.A. as the implementing body for the physical scope of the project. Physical Scope Report CoCCUS

8. COREu Project

COREu is one of the largest research and innovation projects in the field of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) funded by a European program. Its goal is to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future, targeting a carbon dioxide reduction of 6.8 Mt/year by 2035 and 36 Mt/year by 2050. This goal will be achieved by demonstrating key technologies across the entire CCS value chain in Europe. The project aims to develop new demonstration projects connecting carbon dioxide sources with potential storage sites. The project is based on the core concept of CCS—capture and storage—which is the process of capturing waste carbon dioxide either directly from the atmosphere or from power generation and industrial facilities, and subsequently transporting it to facilities for reuse or for storage in geological formations. The COREu project applies specialized chemical absorption techniques to improve the yield and efficiency of the carbon capture process. https://coreu.eu/

9. Poseidon Project

The majority of marine fuels used globally consist of either petroleum or natural gas, which contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To address this environmental concern, new regulations such as FuelEU Maritime require shipowners to reduce the carbon footprint of their vessels. Renewable fuels such as ammonia, methane, or methanol produced from renewable sources are considered highly promising decarbonization options. Synthetic methanol, also known as e-methanol, has several key advantages over other renewable fuels: it is liquid at standard pressure, and engines can easily be converted to burn e-methanol. The use of e-methanol as a marine fuel is gaining ground in the EU, with leading shipping companies ordering newly built vessels that operate on this renewable fuel. Currently, the renewable fuel chain faces several obstacles: there is competition among different sectors for raw materials, renewable fuels are only produced in limited quantities, and the cost of renewable fuels remains high. The POSEIDON project will help address some of the existing barriers to integrating the use of e-methanol as a marine fuel. The overall goal of the POSEIDON project is to prepare the implementation of local value chains based on e-methanol as a marine fuel in the ports of Valencia and Thessaloniki. https://project-poseidon.eu/

10. Hirecord

In a global first, HiRECORD will demonstrate at TRL 6 a modular CO2 capture unit comprising a rotating packed bed (RPB) absorber and an advanced RPB desorber with an integrated rotating reboiler (RPB-ISR). The unit will have a CO2 capture capacity of 10 t/day and will operate with the advanced APBS-CDRMax solvent. RPBs have recently gained increasing attention due to their potential in process intensification. RPBs rely on centrifugal force to increase contact between different phases, such as liquid-solid or liquid-gas, thereby enhancing mass transfer between the two. In the case of post-combustion CO2 capture from exhaust gases, this also allows for a reduction in the size of the absorber and desorber. The EU-funded HiRECORD project will demonstrate the high technological readiness of a modular CO2 capture unit that includes an RPB absorber and an advanced RPB desorber with an integrated rotating reboiler and an advanced, greener solvent. The system will halve CO2 capture costs compared to conventional technologies while significantly reducing environmental and safety impacts. https://hirecord.eu/

We remain at your disposal for any guidance and technical information you may need, and we are always ready to certify the quality of the products you procure from CaO Hellas.

Sincerely, for CaO Hellas

Georgios Dimitriadis, Mechanical Engineer MSc, Technical Director

Konstantinos Intzes, Chemical Engineer MSc, Laboratory Manager