French firm Air Liquide has started operating a carbon dioxide liquefaction plant in Tulare County that captures carbon emissions and transforms them into products used in the manufacturing and food service industries.
The plant is located in Pixley, next to the Calgren Renewable Fuels ethanol plant, which has a capacity to produce 55 million gallons of corn-based ethanol each year. The Air Liquide plant can capture 450 tons of carbon dioxide from the plant daily as a byproduct of its ethanol production.
Air Liquide takes the carbon, purifies it, liquefies it, then sells it to food, beverage and manufacturing industries in the region. Liquid carbon dioxide is used for quickly freezing and preserving products and cooling manufacturing processes to make them more efficient.