CCC/191 ISBN 978-92-9029-511-2

December 2011

copyright © IEA Clean Coal Centre

Abstract

Pre-combustion capture involves reacting a fuel with oxygen or air and/or steam to give mainly a

‘synthesis gas (syngas)’ or ‘fuel gas’ composed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The carbon

monoxide is reacted with steam in a catalytic reactor, called a shift converter, to produce CO2 and

more hydrogen. CO2 is then separated, usually by a physical or chemical absorption process, resulting

in a hydrogen-rich fuel which can be used in many applications, such as boilers, furnaces, gas

turbines, engines and fuel cells. This report examines the use of pre-combustion capture in coal

fuelled integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants. After the introduction there follows a

short discussion of the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. This is followed by chapters on the means of

CO2 capture by physical and chemical solvents, solid sorbents, and membranes. The results and

conclusions of techno-economic studies are introduced followed by a look at some of the pilot and

demonstration plants relevant to pre-combustion capture in IGCC plants.