Progress toward decarbonizing the chemical industry
Positive interim results for the Air2Chem project
The Air2Chem project is developing an integrated process that combines direct air capture with electrolytic conversion of the carbonate-containing absorber solution into platform raw materials for the chemical industry. The aim is to provide a sustainable source of carbon dioxide for chemical industry processes that is location-independent and economically viable. One year after the project was launched, the researchers are reporting positive interim results.
“DAC (Direct Air Capture) offers a promising solution for meeting the demand for sustainable carbon in the chemical industry,” says project manager Dr. Kai junge Puring from Fraunhofer UMSICHT. “We are focusing on a cost-effective process for converting CO2 from the air into chemical feedstocks such as ethylene or synthesis gases, and our progress over the past year shows that we are on the right track,” adds Prof. Ulf-Peter Apfel (also Fraunhofer UMSICHT).
This process consists of a DAC based on membrane gas absorption and carbonate electrolysis for the synthesis of chemical raw materials from CO2, with simultaneous use of oxidative synthesis pathways in the electrolyzer. During an initial presentation to the project's industrial advisory board, discussions focused on how the process could be established in industry. Representatives from the chemical industry, chemical and energy plant engineering, and membrane technology highlighted both technical and regulatory framework conditions.
More detailed results followed at the annual project meeting in Aachen. Over the past twelve months, the first membranes for the direct air capture process have been successfully tested and their microstructure optimized. In addition, the first membrane modules were tested on a laboratory scale, identifying optimal operating windows. Promising products for the cathode and anode were identified for electrolysis and specified for the demonstrator. Suitable electrodes based on metal meshes were selected and catalytic coatings developed. In addition, a standardized laboratory cell for electrochemical tests was distributed to the partners and an initial scaling concept for the demonstrator was developed. Last but not least, the design for coupling the sub-processes was created.
In the coming year, the researchers will focus further on process integration. They want to finalize the necessary parameter studies and design in order to begin construction of the demonstrator. In addition, the scaling and testing of the components and modules for the demonstrator are pending.
Project Partners
- CO2CirculAir B.V.
- FXC Engineering GmbH
- GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG
- Projektträger Jülich
- RWTH Aachen (Aachener Verfahrenstechnik, Chemische Verfahrenstechnik)
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