About this Research Topic

Background

The circular economy is a new paradigm aiming at minimizing the consumption of natural resources; whereas renewable energy is the key to the sustainable production of power. Since the supply of raw materials often depends on fossil carbon, the concepts of circular economy and renewable energy systems share the common notion of the decarbonization of the economy.
Circular carbon systems and processes is a research area sitting at the interface between the circular economy and the renewable energy systems. Reduce, reuse, recycle and remove are the methodologies adopted in circular carbon economy for decoupling the economic growth from CO2 emission and fight the cause of the current climate change. Carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) is a well-known area of research. One way CO2 is captured is by ammine, which is then stored in depleted oil wells in order to enhance the recovery of oil and methane. In the era of circular economy, this is not yet sufficient.

The progressive decarbonization economy requires the research and development of advanced technologies for the safe and efficient use of carbon, together with the manufacturing of carbon-based renewable fuels. The goal of this area of research is the study of novel systems and processes that are emerging from the interaction between energy production, transportation and industries.

To be effective, the CCUS processes themselves have to shift from a linear paradigm to a circular one. In circular-CCUS processes, the materials used for capturing the CO2, at the end of their life cycle, should be recycled in manufacturing processes making the circular carbon economy even more sustainable. This will utilize recent advances like direct air capture, plasma catalysis and photo catalysis for the effective production of hydrocarbon fuels from CO2 and H2 and the implementation of bio-CCUS. However, holistic models are required to evaluate the real potential of CO2 to be into a resource.

The aim of this Research Topic is to collect fundamental studies on process and materials aimed at the synthesis of circular processes, powered by renewable energy, for the reduction, reuse, recycling and removal of carbon. Process integration and advanced materials for carbon capture, use and storage are at the core of this Research Topic that aims to bring to light articles addressing the decarbonisation of industrial energy-related technologies and systems, in order to reduce CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere.

We would welcome manuscripts on the following, but not limited to, areas:
o CO2 capture using sustainable and circular materials
o Integration of circular carbon systems enabling industrial symbiosis and preventing CO2 emission
o Production of renewable e-fuels from CO2
o Recycling of CO2 to chemicals and materials
o Electrification of industries
o Hydrogen production and use
o Direct Air Capture with storage and use
o Bio energy with carbon capture and use
o CO2 transport and storage

Keywords: Circular carbon economy, Holistic models, synthesis of processes, advanced materials, novel catalytic systems

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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