The Fischer-Tropsch route is an advanced process for the production of sustainable fuels (SF) today. However, it has limited product selectivity and requires the reversed water-gas shift reaction to utilise CO2. In addition, the production of kerosine requires additional steps, which makes this route inefficient.
The alternative methanol route has better selectivity to diesel and gasoline, which has already been demonstrated in commercial plants in New Zealand and China. This route has great potential for the production of SF directly from CO2.
WP7 aims at the conversion of sustainable methanol to kerosine and sustainable platform chemicals (SPC), focussing on the development of suitable catalysts and optimal reaction conditions. The main objectives of catalyst development are high activity, selectivity and optimum stability of the catalysts at minimum cost.
One aspect is the investigation of innovative reaction concepts such as inductively heated reactors and sorption-enhanced synthesis. These concepts can reduce production costs, as they offer better energy efficiency, higher conversion and less product processing steps.
The intermediates of the methanol route are the platform chemicals ethylene and propylene, which can be used as feedstocks for the production of plastics and many chemicals. Therefore, WP7 will investigate the potential of methanol, ethylene, propylene and higher olefins as SPCs.
The detailed objectives are:
- Development of catalysts for the production of SPC and SF from methanol.
- Development of catalytic processes for the production of SF or olefins as SPC from methanol with these catalysts.
- Identification of SPCs that meet the needs of the chemical industry.