Several specific research needs were identified that will otherwise restrict comprehensive assessment
of the health and environmental effects of amines for post combustion capture [1]. These included:
• Analytical methods for characterizing the chemical composition of emissions: Currently, little
information is available on the full suite of sampling and analytical methodologies in use today, their
efficacy, or if better alternatives are available. Standard methods and protocols would help increase
the limited amount of emissions data from amine solvent post-combustion carbon capture pilot plants
by simplifying the overall process of selecting, evaluating, and applying appropriate methods. In
addition, application of common sampling and analysis methods to different installations would
provide the opportunity to directly compare resulting emissions.
• Emissions measurements from pilot or demo-scale projects: Although it was noted by several
workshop participants that some data are available, e.g., those collected by developers, the reality is
that very few high quality data are available in the public domain. In order to accurately evaluate
potential risk, the composition of emissions, along with relevant concentrations, must be known.
• Interactions with solvent additives, e.g., corrosion inhibitors: Little is known about these additives as
they are also proprietary. The published literature indicates that these are often heavy metals, and the
resultant liquid waste from the absorber must therefore be disposed of as hazardous material.
• Improved understanding and modeling of the atmospheric chemistry and loss processes of emissions
from amine-based capture solutions: Once emissions have been quantified and characterized, their
fate in the atmosphere must be simulated in order to understand the levels of exposure and the
compounds that may remain in the atmosphere. This involves a careful assessment of the
photochemistry of the emissions and their potential reaction products and their loss terms, such as
through photolysis or deposition. It is also important to develop technologies to measure any
compounds of concern at ambient levels to ensure that models are indeed capturing the correct levels
of exposure.