IIT Madras Faculty Rajnish Kumar Receives Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Pioneering Carbon Sequestration Research

New Delhi: Rajnish Kumar, a member of the faculty in the Chemical Engineering Department at the IIT Madras, has been honored with the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in the field of engineering for 2022. His awarded research focuses on the sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2), a process involving the return of carbon to the Earth. 

The IIT Madras Professor Kumar dedicated the last three years to this project, and it was his groundbreaking research that earned him this prestigious accolade.

Professor Kumar from the IITM Faculty highlighted that in the pre-industrialization era, CO2 emissions were below 300 ppm. However, over the last century, they have escalated to 420ppm, with predictions foreseeing an increase to 1000ppm in the future. The critical question raised is whether this elevated concentration will lead to alterations in weather conditions or precipitate other changes.

According to Professor Kumar, the generation of CO2 is attributed to vehicle fuel consumption, and industries, particularly those involved in cement, chemical, and synthetic fuel production, are significant contributors to CO2 emissions. While advancements in vehicle design have successfully reduced the release of sulfur and nitrogen oxide gases, the current challenge lies in capturing CO2 from the atmosphere, particularly from industrial sources. 

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More Details on Carbon Sequestration 

Professor Kumar revealed that at present, India generates 2.8 billion tonnes of CO2 annually. The researchers are actively exploring methods to reduce CO2 emissions, particularly in cement, steel, and chemical industries, given the relative ease compared to capturing CO2 from vehicles.

The second research challenge involves developing a cost-effective material for capturing CO2. Currently, it costs 4.50 to capture one kilogram of CO2 from a point source. This implies that, on average, to produce 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity, approximately 1 kilogram of CO2 needs to be generated from coal. The challenge lies in the scale, as capturing CO2 doubles the electricity cost, presenting a significant hurdle.

Although the researchers have identified methods for carbon storage, the challenge lies in storing captured CO2. Additionally, the process involves breaking down CO2 into carbon and oxygen, requiring the use of hydrogen.

The generation of CO2 results from combusting oxygen, but the reverse process of breaking down CO2 necessitates both energy and hydrogen. Professor Kumar underscores the current lack of knowledge regarding the storage of hydrogen, which is a low-density gas.

According to Professor Kumar, he rejects the idea of planting trees as a feasible solution, stating that even agricultural practices, such as farming, contribute to water consumption. He added that the production of one kilogram of sugar requires 3,000 kilograms of water, emphasizing the disruption of equilibrium. 

Professor Kumar pointed out the need for a prolonged and sustained effort to educate people, stating that achieving this goal is not an overnight task. He concluded by questioning the feasibility of a turnaround within 10 to 15 years, advocating for a more forward-thinking approach that plans for the next 500 years. 

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