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List of technology offers Carbon dioxide recycling: high yielding process for the preparation of methanol and DME from carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide recycling: high yielding process for the

preparation of methanol and DME from carbon dioxide
Institute Of Chemical Research Of Catalonia (ICIQ) / Spain
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Tech offer O-1176 Posted on: 22/11/2013 Deadline : 28/06/2014 Active user s : 9 RELATED KE YW

DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY OFFER

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A well-established Spanish research institute for chemistry and
catalysis developed a continuous flow process for the reduction of
carbon dioxide to methanol that proceeds with excellent conversions and selectivity in one sole pass through
the reactor, thereby affording record yields of methanol production. The obtained methanol can be further
INTELLECTUAL
processed to DME and hydrocarbons to afford high-value chemicals.
PCT patent app
Global warming is largely associated to the presence of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the
CURRENT DEVE
atmosphere. This, along with the reached peak oil and the fast increasing demand in energy, places our
societies in front of the urge of finding sustainable solutions for the generation of energy and chemical Experimental te
feedstocks. It was proposed in the 1990s that methanol could efficiently replace fossil fuels as a means to REQUIRED BUS
store, distribute and supply energy. Methanol can serve as a raw material for the preparation of chemical
Technology dev
feedstocks and is also a good fuel itself; so is dimethylether. Methanol is currently being produced from
Technology
synthesis gas, directly obtained from gas or biomass.

A much more sustainable approach to methanol synthesis consists in capturing carbon dioxide from atmosphere or from burning
to form methanol, thereby closing the carbon cycle. Such processes have been reported and they most commonly suffer from lo
conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol, therefore requiring sofisticated process plants with high associated operating costs.

The developed process allows for the preparation of methanol and DME from carbon dioxide in high yields using well

The Institution is searching for industrial partners to further develop these technologies from the laboratory scale to the
NEW AND INNOVATIVE ASPECTS

- The process employs commercially available catalysts

- High productivity of methanol per gram of catalyst per hour
- no recycling of unreacted carbon dioxide is virtually needed
- high per-pass conversion of carbon dioxide and selectivity to methanol or dimethylether
- further methanol processing is possible
SPECIFICATIONS

The technology developed advantageously allows for the highly productive and selective preparation of methanol from carbon di
reactor operating in a continuous manner at high pressure (thereby reducing the size of the required installations). The hydrogen

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hydrogenation may be obtained by electrochemical water splitting, being the energy required for this step obtained in a renewab
wind, etc). The copper-based catalyst used in this reaction is well-known and readily available. Furthermore, there is virtually no
carbon dioxide because of the high conversion and the obtained methanol can be separated from the unreacted hydrogen by sim
hydrogen potentially recycled to the reactor feed or used for other processes. Conversions of carbon dioxide higher than 95% co
methanol higher than 98% can be reached in the specific developed conditions of reaction.

Dimethylether (DME) can readily be prepared in series or simultaneously by addition of a second catalyst responsible for methan
conditions of reaction, carbon dioxide can be transformed into dimethyl ether in one-pass through the reactor(s) with a conversio
dimethyl ether formation over the other by-products of around 89%. DME is useful as a chemical feedstock, refrigerant and is co
fuel for diesel engines.

The methanol thus produced can also be further used in the production of low-weight hydrocarbons following the well
MAIN ADVANTAGES OF ITS USE

commercial catalyst

high yield

small reactor size

APPLICATIONS

bulk chemicals

energy
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (ATTACHED DOCUMENTS)

one-pager - AU 2012 02.pdf

About the vendor organization

Institute Of Chemical Research Of Catalonia (ICIQ)

PRESENTATION

The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) is a not-for-profit foundation focusing its activities in th
catalysis.

ICIQ was conceived with the aim of becoming a reference centre for Chemistry within the European Research Area, is the resea
talent and leadership needed to improve citizens' quality of life through the application of chemistry at the frontiers of knowledge.

Our mission is to lead, from the vantage point of molecular science, cross strategies for solving major social and economic probl
establishment of a knowledge-based economy and improving citizens' quality of life.

We at ICIQ consider that catalysis is the key activity for sustainable chemistry. Catalytic processes can minimize raw materials a
lead to the selective formation of target products with minimal generation of wastes. In line with this consideration, we have taken
research topics.

The second research topic of ICIQ includes the derivations of Supramolecular Chemistry towards the creation and explotation of
the context of the bottom-up approach to molecular nanotechnology.

http://www.innoget.com/O.1176/Carbon-dioxide-recycling-high-yielding-process-for-the... 11/27/2013