EXERGOENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS RECOVERY TECHNOLOGIES: TRENDS, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24325/issn.2446-5763.v12i35p192-214Keywords:
Líquidos de Gás Natural, Análise Exergoambiental, ProKnow-C, Bibliometrix, Eficiência TermodinâmicaAbstract
Aligned with the energy transition, natural gas liquid (NGL) recovery boosts sector profitability; however, traditional cryogenic routes suffer from high energy intensity and thermodynamic irreversibilities. To mitigate associated costs and indirect emissions, exergoenvironmental analysis has emerged as an essential diagnostic tool. This study systematically evaluated scientific trends and gaps regarding this approach as applied to NGL processing. The ProKnow-C method, integrated with computational bibliometrics (using the Bibliometrix R package), was employed to map the Scopus and Web of Science databases for the 2021–2026 period. The analyzed portfolio of 1,063 documents revealed a 72.4% growth in annual publications (2022–2025). Findings highlighted the dominance of turboexpander technologies for efficiency and the use of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) for CO2 capture, alongside a methodological shift toward multidimensional indicators (4E and 5E). However, a scarcity of standardized comparative studies and integration with the hydrogen value chain was observed. The study concludes that exergoenvironmental assessment has evolved from a purely academic metric into a decision-making tool for industrial plant design.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Cláudia Carvalho Santos, Daniel da Cunha Ribeiro, Marcos Wagner Jesus Servare Junior, Marcelo Silveira Bacelos
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