In order to enhance the quality of research that supports the international ranking of Undip, the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University, is organizing an Adjunct Professor program funded by the World Class University UNDIP Program Adjunct Professor 2024. This activity proposes one of the world-class professors from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, namely Prof. Dr. Vimal Chandra Srivastava. (h-index 70). In accordance with his expertise in Environmental Science and Chemical Engineering, which relates to the implementation of Green Campus at UNDIP. With a focus on wastewater treatment, desulfurization, CO2 utilization, alternative energy, adsorption, and more.
This program will begin with a guest lecture on the topic of CO2 Capture and Utilization on August 26, 2024. The topic of CO2 Capture and Utilization is very interesting, and it is hoped that it will encourage both faculty and students to conduct research in this field, as stated by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, Prof. Nita Aryanti. In addition, he also mentioned that in the future there will be more collaborations with IIT Roorkee, particularly with Prof. Vimal, regarding both student exchanges and visiting lecturers.
The guest lecture by Prof. Vimal Chandra Srivastava took place in the Theater Room on the 4th floor of the Prof. Ir. Eko Budiharjo, M.Sc. Building at the Faculty of Engineering, UNDIP, attended by lecturers and students from various faculties. Through his presentation taken from the Chemical Industry, he explained that in India, it is mandatory to control CO2 emissions. The control of CO2 emissions can be achieved by converting them into beneficial additives for alternative energy sources such as dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and dimethyl ether. In addition to being converted into additives for alternative energy, CO2 reacted with H2 can be transformed into renewable plastics.
CO2 can be obtained through the combustion of fuels such as biomass and coal. Subsequently, CO2 is separated from O2, N2, H2 using membranes, cryogenic methods, and others. CO2 capture technology includes absorption, membranes, adsorption, and chemical looping. The absorption process involving amines is commonly used in CO2 capture technology, but other technologies are rarely used commercially, limited to laboratory scale.
In the cement industry, a significant amount of CO2 emissions is produced. For example, for every 1 kg of cement produced, approximately 0.79 kg of CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere. Therefore, the utilization of CO2 is very necessary, and several studies indicate that the market value of CO2 utilization is quite promising. Thus, the CO2 emissions released from the rotary kiln during cement production will be distributed to the mineral carbonization unit, renewable fuels/chemicals, and others. When CO2 is added to water, an electrolytic reduction process occurs, producing Co through electrolysis, which then forms syngas (CO + H2). This is subsequently synthesized through the Fischer-Tropsch process or other methods, resulting in renewable olefins/alcohols. In the final stage, renewable plastic obtained from CO2 utilization is produced through a polymerization process.