{"id":144839,"date":"2024-05-29T07:32:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T05:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=144839"},"modified":"2024-05-27T13:24:51","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T11:24:51","slug":"can-we-revolutionise-the-chemical-industry-and-create-a-circular-economy-yes-with-the-help-of-catalysts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/can-we-revolutionise-the-chemical-industry-and-create-a-circular-economy-yes-with-the-help-of-catalysts\/","title":{"rendered":"Can we revolutionise the chemical industry and create a circular economy? Yes, with the help of catalysts\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\"Sustainable
Sustainable resource management in the circular economy with emphasis on resource recovery and waste reduction \u00a9 Elsevier<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The chemical industry is a cornerstone of global development, driving innovation, and providing essential products that support our modern way of life.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, its reliance on unsustainable fossil resources has posed significant threats to global ecosystems through climate change and chemical pollution.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new commentary published in Cell Press\u2019 OneEarth<\/em><\/a> co-authored by Griffith University researchers puts forth a transformative solution: catalysis to leverage sustainable waste resources, ushering the industry from a linear to a circular economy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIf we look at recent statistics, the chemical industry contributes a staggering US$5.7 trillion to the global economy and sustains 150 million jobs worldwide, excluding refined fossil fuels,\u201d said Professor Karen Wilson<\/a>, one of the lead authors and Director of Griffith\u2019s Centre for Catalysis and Clean Energy<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But it remains the largest industrial energy consumer and the third-largest emitter of direct CO2<\/sub> emissions globally.\u201d  <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, the industry emitted 935 million metric tons of CO2<\/sub> during primary chemicals production. Moreover, its operations have led to significant water contamination and the release of toxic chemicals into the environment, perpetuating a cycle of ecological harm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Co-lead author Professor Adam Lee,<\/strong> also based at Griffith, said: \u201cCatalytic processes could minimise reliance on finite fossil fuels and curb CO2 <\/sub>emissions significantly by harnessing agricultural, municipal, and plastic waste as feedstocks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis feedstock transition not only mitigates environmental damage but also addresses vulnerabilities in the industry’s supply chain, which are susceptible to geopolitical and natural disruptions.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Wilson<\/strong> added: \u201cCatalysis has historically played a key role in transforming fossil resources into essential fuels and products, and now offers a beacon of hope for revolutionising the chemical industry and promoting a circular economy.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

However, the authors acknowledge that this vision demands concerted innovation in catalyst formulation and process integration.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cPrioritising Earth-abundant elements over precious metals will unlock sustainable catalytic systems for the efficient conversion of organic waste into benign and recyclable products,\u201d Professor Wilson<\/strong> said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlready, pioneering initiatives such as the co-location of different industries in Kalundborg, Denmark to foster symbiosis have demonstrated new collaborative models to improve resource efficiency and waste reduction.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Catalysis offers a pathway towards sustainability, enabling us to transform waste into valuable resources and pave the way for a circular economy,” Professor Lee<\/strong> added. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In the OneEarth commentary, the team explored sources of catalysis for sustainable and circular chemical processes through the following lenses: <\/p>\n\n\n\n