Overview
Project
Ambitious
We will develop the scientific bases for a ground-breaking approach (based on catalysis-plasma symbiosis) for direct chemical syntheses using renewable energy of large-volume key chemicals or energy vectors.
Synergy
We integrate complementary and interdisciplinary competences over the entire scale elements necessary for process development, from nano to mega scale, from catalysis and plasma level to plant sustainability and assessment
The Scientific Issue
Non-thermal plasma is a potential valuable technology for direct chemical syntheses with large reduction of carbon footprint (up to over 90%) (process and energy intensification), but selectivity and energy efficiency is an issue (<20-30%).
The Project Idea
A highly innovative approach for non-thermal plasma symbiosis with catalysis. It is based on three brand new ideas to overcome the actual limits and enhance the selectivity (to valuable products) and energy efficiency (as exergy) to levels (>70-80%) suitable for exploitation.
The Target Reactions:
- N2 fixation. key reaction for production of ammonia (NH3) and NOx-made fertilizers, one of the largest volume chemicals (over 150 Mt/y production). Today, an energy-intensive multistep process is required, starting from CH4 and air, via H2 production, NH3 synthesis and NH3 oxidation to NOx.
- CH4 valorization to produce longer C-chain hydrocarbons, and especially ethylene and propylene, which are the building blocks of current petrochemistry (over 200 Mt/y production). Their current production from methane requires a multistep and energy-intensive process: syngas production, methanol synthesis and methanol-to-olefin conversion.
- CO2 conversion to liquid solar fuels, like methanol or higher alcohols. Key process to make chemical energy storage possible, a fundamental technology to allow the storage/distribution on long dis-tance (world-scale) of renewable energy. Today several steps: H2 production, syngas formation, methanol synthesis, further steps to arrive to higher alcohols.
Direct (one-step) production using the novel approach of plasma-catalysis symbiosis can i) reduce the carbon footprint up to over 90%, ii) use renewable energy as energy input and abundant available resources, iii) allow distributed (regional-type) production (enabling process/capacity flexibility for higher cash flow), iv) realize process and energy intensification (cost and carbon footprint reduction), and v) facilitate and speed up compact, mobile plant approval (to widen the scope of opportunities in the large energy market).