China has developed a different approach to carbon capture technologies by directly utilizing flue gases from coal-fired thermal power plants for agricultural fertilizer production. The system, which does not require underground carbon storage, aims to transform industrial emissions into a product with economic value.
Direct Use in Production Instead of Carbon Storage
In traditional carbon capture projects, carbon dioxide emitted from industrial facilities is separated before reaching the atmosphere. This CO2 is then liquefied and transported to underground geological storage sites via specialized infrastructure. However, this method has limited applicability in many regions due to the high-cost infrastructure requirements and dependence on suitable underground formations.
Chinese company Jiangnan Environmental Technology (JNG) has developed an alternative method for this process. The company uses ammonia to absorb sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide produced during coal combustion. The captured gases are then directly converted into chemical compounds used in fertilizer production.
This method not only purifies flue gas but also yields a commercially valuable agricultural product. The company positions the system as a low-cost carbon capture solution.
The approach used actually dates back decades. In the early 20th century, limestone-gypsum-based methods were predominantly used for sulfur removal in industrial facilities. While effective, these techniques generated large amounts of waste.
In later years, many facilities transitioned to ammonia-based desulfurization systems. This method reduced waste generation by converting sulfur dioxide into ammonium sulfate fertilizer.
JNG's new system takes this approach further. The company captures not only sulfur dioxide but also carbon dioxide within the same process. The resulting gases are then used in the production of ammonium sulfate and ammonium bicarbonate. Thus, thermal power plant emissions are directly converted into usable fertilizer.
10,000 Tons of CO2 Captured Annually
According to company data, the system can capture approximately 90 percent of the carbon emissions generated during the process. The pilot application of the technology was launched in a coal power plant last August.
The facility aims to capture approximately 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Additionally, it plans to produce about 30,000 tons of fertilizer per year as a byproduct.
A study published in 2025 shed light on the effects of this method-produced fertilizer on agricultural performance. According to the research, rice yields in fields using this fertilizer were 6.2 percent higher compared to areas using traditional fertilizers.
Researchers also observed significant reductions in environmental impacts. The study reported that nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels released into the environment were significantly lower than with conventional fertilizer use. This indicates that the system not only has the potential to increase crop yields but also to reduce environmental pollution.
It is stated that trials are being conducted in various countries to evaluate the performance of the fertilizer developed under the project in different climate and soil conditions. Tests were reportedly carried out in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Brazil. The company also claims that farmers' production costs could decrease by up to 50 percent if they switch to this type of fertilizer.
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