LCCO₂ Assessment and Fertilizer Production from Absorbed-CO₂ Solid Matter in a Small-Scale DACCU Plant

This study investigates a novel method of utilizing Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology for fertilizer production. Unlike traditional Direct Air Carbon Capture and Utilization (DACCU) technologies, Direct Air Carbon Capture for Fertilizers (FDAC) has the potential to produce fertilizers directly. This study aims to assess the feasibility of FDAC-based fertilizer production by examining the current state of traditional DAC technologies, evaluating the CO₂ fixation potential of FDAC, and analyzing the decarbonization effect of producing fertilizers using FDAC. Our evaluation results indicate that CO₂ emissions from producing 1 ton of conventional chemical fertilizer, FDAC fertilizer (current status), FDAC fertilizer with ingredient adjustment (sodium hydroxide), and FDAC fertilizer with ingredient adjustment (magnesium hydroxide) are 1.69, 1.12, 1.04, and 1.06 tons of CO₂, respectively. The FDAC fertilizer (current status) emits 0.57 tons of CO₂ per ton less than commercial fertilizers. FDAC fertilizers also have the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions further when the fertilizer composition is adjusted, offering a promising solution for lowering the environmental impact of fertilizer production. Significant CO₂ reduction can be expected by replacing conventional low-intensity chemical fertilizers with FDAC-produced fertilizers.