The Catalyst Review March 2020 - 12

SPECIAL FEATURE
is more complex as it requires co-reactants (e.g.,
hydrogen or an organic chemical) and the operation of
an entirely different operation to the original plant's
main business. This is where a company needs to
expand their knowledge of chemicals and materials
manufacture. The final choice is based on many
factors - going further downstream involves a higher
CAPEX, the need for a hydrogen source and other
raw materials, but it can provide higher revenues
and margins. For a new CRU-CCP to work, generally
a consortium of partners needs to work together as
in the examples above. There are no applications
currently at TRL9, although some such as the building
materials sectors are heading in that direction, so
innovation will be required. Government project
funding and policy support are essential.

Table 1. Questionnaire for an IME for installation of a CO2 gas recovery unit (CRU).

Source: Enabled Future Limited 2020, adapted from Pentair Union Engineering.

Market intelligence is needed on the supply, demand and pricing for CO2-which can be very localized-changing not quite by zip
code, but in the US it could vary even within one state and in Europe by several parts of each country. The customer for the CO2
would preferably be local, although there is plenty of examples of CO2 being collected and loaded into road tanker or ship container.
If supplying into a local chemicals or materials company, the capacity ratio is important. For instance, if an IME's factory emits
enough CO2 to supply only one plant (e.g., for making a plastic) and that plant decides to double its capacity, then it is left with a
supply shortage and needs to have a top up from another source. In practice this might not be a problem. The major benefit to the
downstream customer is that it can show a reduction in carbon footprint of its supply chain. For each IME, a strategy can be devised,
with each of these factors scored.
Figure 6 shows the results of an
exercise carried out for an IME. It
should be noted that the scores
were based on the IME's very
specific circumstances and would
vary by each individual plant and
company. The chart also shows there
are many places where catalysts
would be required; for instance,
methanation, methanol synthesis,
methanol dehydration, FischerTropsch conversion and downstream
hydrogenations, biocatalysts for
fermentations and polymerization
catalysts for Polyethylene carbonate
polyols (PECP), electrocatalysts for
green hydrogen co-reactant and many
others.

Figure 6. Example screening results for CO2 utilization options for an industrial micro-emitter (IME).

Source: Enabled Future Limited 2019.

The modular technology for making all these chemicals is in development. These technologies will continue to grow in importance
and the discussion around CRU-CCP is no longer esoteric, or simply a future vision. With the growing concern around the deleterious
effects of climate change, immense pressure on companies to reduce their carbon footprints, regulations imposing fees for emitters
and the desire from the investment community to have more green projects to fund, this is a future which is coming into the
mainstream; one which many companies are embracing and looking to select the best options to suit their particular circumstances.
Over the next few years, this is an exercise which many IME's will carry out in order to ensure a profitable, safe and sustainable
position in the future chemicals and materials supply chain.

The Catalyst Review

March 2020

The Catalyst Review March 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Catalyst Review March 2020