We describe here a CO
2 capture and utilization (CCU) technology that converts waste CO
2 into methanol (MeOH), a valuable chemical, thus providing a way to monetize the carbon captured to offset process costs. Methanol (MeOH) finds broad use as a transportation fuel and as an important raw material used in the production of other fuels and chemicals. Methanol synthesis (MeS) has been discussed recently for application to CCU, but thermodynamic limitations make it difficult to convert in a single pass a large CO
2 fraction. Conventional catalysts show slow kinetics in converting CO
2-rich syngas (or pure CO
2) into MeOH. Our Group has developed a novel MeS process from syngas, employing a membrane contactor reactor (MCR) system that attains carbon conversions significantly higher than equilibrium [1-3]. It employs a mesoporous inorganic membrane appropriately modified to serve as an interface contactor between the MeS environment in the shell-side and a sweep liquid flow in the permeate-side. In this study, this high pressure MCR is combined with a separate reactor, which converts the CO
2 into a syngas via the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. Our experimental efforts focus on the study of the performance of the integrated (RWGSR/MeS-MCR) system. In addition, the combined system is simulated using a data-validated model, which is also utilized in the preliminary technical and economic analysis (TEA) of the process.
References
- Li, Z., and Tsotsis, T.T., “Methanol Synthesis in a High-Pressure Membrane Reactor with Liquid Sweep,” Membrane Sci., 570-571, 103, 2019.
- Zebarjad, F., Hu, S., Li, Z., and Tsotsis, T.T., “Experimental Investigation of the Application of Ionic Liquids to Methanol Synthesis in Membrane Reactors,” Eng. Chem. Res., 58. 11911, 2019.
- Zebarjad, F., Gong, J., Li, Z., Jessen, K., Tsotsis, T.T., “Simulation of Methanol Synthesis in a Membrane Contactor Reactor,” Membrane Sci., 661, 120677, 2022.
