{"id":21594,"date":"2012-09-24T12:19:41","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T10:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=21594"},"modified":"2014-07-24T14:48:47","modified_gmt":"2014-07-24T12:48:47","slug":"five-steps-implementation-full-co2-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/five-steps-implementation-full-co2-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Five steps for the implementation of a full CO2<\/sub> economy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The chemical industry and the solar industry are partners in developing artificial\u00a0photosynthesis to produce sustainable carbon without using biomass. Solar fuels and\u00a0solar materials cover the demands of society and industry. This will change the face of\u00a0the world dramatically and sets out a realistic pathway towards a truly sustainable\u00a0society with infinite resources from CO2<\/sub> recycling.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regarding that sustainable innovation sector the nova-Institut (Germany) organizes the\u00a0world’s largest conference: From 10th to 11th October 2012 the topic of carbon dioxide as\u00a0feedstock for fuels, chemicals and polymers is the main focus in the Haus der Technik (Essen,\u00a0Germany). The world’s leading experts on the use of carbon dioxide will be presenting their\u00a0latest developments and will put it up for discussion: http:\/\/www.co2-chemistry.eu<\/a><\/p>\n

The revolution is already underway and it is taking place step by step \u2013 all comprehensively\u00a0covered by the coming conference:<\/p>\n

Step 1: Power-to-gas<\/h3>\n

Status: First demonstration plants are already under construction<\/h3>\n

There is an increasing demand for means of storing surplus production of solar and wind\u00a0energy. Alongside other options, surplus renewable electricity can be used to split water into\u00a0hydrogen (H2)<\/sub> and oxygen (O2<\/sub>). CO2<\/sub> and H2<\/sub> can easily be used to form the chemical\u00a0compounds methane and methanol, which can be stored and later used for electricity\u00a0production.<\/p>\n

Presently, CO2<\/sub> is coming from power plant combustion; in future, it will be possible\u00a0absorbing CO2<\/sub> from atmosphere (see Step 5).\u00a0The challenge for Step 1 is to optimize the system, increase the total efficiency and decrease\u00a0the costs. Today, the production of methane and methanol via the pathway described above is\u00a0only price-competitive using very cheap electricity (circa 0,03 \u20ac cents\/kWh) like renewable\u00a0surplus. In any case, methanol is the more promising option, because less hydrogen is needed\u00a0in production.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Polymers and chemicals from CO2<\/sub><\/h3>\n

Status: Polypropylene carbonate (PPC) and CO2<\/sub> polyols are already produced on small\u00a0scale and available on the market; other chemicals and plastics are on the track<\/h3>\n

A\u00a0very\u00a0interesting\u00a0CO2<\/sub>\u00ad\u2010based\u00a0polymer\u00a0is\u00a0PPC:\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a043%\u00a0CO2<\/sub>\u00a0by\u00a0mass\u00a0and\u00a0biodegradable,\u00a0and\u00a0has\u00a0high\u00a0temperature\u00a0stability,\u00a0high\u00a0elasticity\u00a0and\u00a0transparency,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0memory\u00a0effect.\u00a0These\u00a0characteristics\u00a0open\u00a0up\u00a0a\u00a0wide\u00a0range\u00a0of\u00a0applications\u00a0for\u00a0PPC,\u00a0including\u00a0countless\u00a0uses\u00a0as\u00a0packing\u00a0film\u00a0and\u00a0foams,\u00a0dispersions\u00a0and\u00a0softeners\u00a0for\u00a0brittle\u00a0plastics.\u00a0PPC\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0softener\u00a0for\u00a0bio\u2010based\u00a0plastics. Many\u00a0bio\u00ad\u2010based\u00a0plastics,\u00a0e.g.\u00a0PLA\u00a0and\u00a0PHA,\u00a0are\u00a0originally\u00a0too\u00a0brittle\u00a0and\u00a0can\u00a0therefore\u00a0only\u00a0be\u00a0used\u00a0in\u00a0conjunction\u00a0with\u00a0additives\u00a0for\u00a0many\u00a0uses.\u00a0Now\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0option\u00a0is\u00a0available.\u00a0They\u00a0cover\u00a0an\u00a0extended\u00a0range\u00a0of material\u00a0characteristics\u00a0through\u00a0combinations\u00a0of\u00a0PPC\u00a0with\u00a0PLA\u00a0or\u00a0PHA.\u00a0This keeps\u00a0the\u00a0material\u00a0biodegradable\u00a0and\u00a0translucent,\u00a0and\u00a0it can\u00a0be\u00a0processed without\u00a0 any\u00a0 trouble\u00a0 using\u00a0 normal\u00a0 machinery.\u00a0 The\u00a0 vacuum\u00a0 cleaner\u00a0 casings\u00a0 that\u00a0 Bosch\u00a0 Siemens\u00a0 Household\u00a0 Appliances\u00a0 (BSH)\u00a0 displayed\u00a0 at\u00a0 ACHEMA\u00a0 are\u00a0 predominantly\u00a0 made\u00a0 of\u00a0 BASF\u2019s\u00a0 PPC\u00a0 and\u00a0 PHA\u00a0 and\u00a0 are\u00a0 intended\u00a0 as\u00a0 a\u00a0 substitute\u00a0 for\u00a0 the\u00a0 bulk\u00a0 plastic\u00a0 ABS.\u00a0 Another\u00a0 CO2<\/sub>\u2010based\u00a0 polymer\u00a0 is\u00a0 polyethylene\u00a0 carbonate\u00a0 (PEC).\u00a0 PEC\u00a0 is\u00a0 50%\u00a0 CO2<\/sub>\u00a0 by\u00a0 mass\u00a0 and\u00a0 can\u00a0 be\u00a0 used\u00a0 in\u00a0 a\u00a0 number\u00a0 of\u00a0 applications\u00a0 to\u00a0 replace\u00a0 and\u00a0 improve\u00a0 traditional\u00a0 petroleum\u2010based\u00a0 plastics\u00a0 currently\u00a0 on\u00a0 the\u00a0 market.\u00a0 PEC\u00a0 plastics\u00a0 exhibit\u00a0 excellent\u00a0 oxygen\u00ad\u2010\u00a0 barrier\u00a0 properties\u00a0 that\u00a0 make\u00a0 it\u00a0 useful\u00a0 as\u00a0 a\u00a0 barrier\u00a0 layer\u00a0 for\u00a0 food\u2010packaging\u00a0 applications.\u00a0 At\u00a0 ACHEMA\u00a0 Bayer\u00a0 Material\u00a0 Science\u00a0 exhibited\u00a0 polyurethane\u00a0 blocks\u00a0 made\u00a0 from\u00a0 CO2<\/sub>\u00a0 polyols.\u00a0 CO2<\/sub>\u00a0 replaces\u00a0 some\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 mineral\u00a0 oil\u00a0 use.\u00a0 Industrial\u00a0 manufacturing\u00a0 of\u00a0 foams\u00a0 for\u00a0 mattresses\u00a0 and\u00a0 insulating\u00a0 materials\u00a0 for\u00a0 fridges\u00a0 and\u00a0 buildings\u00a0 is\u00a0 due\u00a0 to\u00a0 start\u00a0 in\u00a0 2015.\u00a0 With\u00a0 the\u00a0 right\u00a0 political\u00a0 and\u00a0 research\u00a0 framework,\u00a0 CO2<\/sub>\u00ad\u2010based\u00a0 polymers\u00a0 will\u00a0 not\u00a0 only\u00a0 have\u00a0 a\u00a0 bright\u00a0 future\u00a0 but\u00a0 also\u00a0 realize\u00a0 quick\u00a0 market\u00a0 penetration.<\/p>\n

Step 3: CO2<\/sub> as carbon source for industrial biotechnology<\/h3>\n

Status: CO2<\/sub> is already used in pilots as feedstock for algae and bacteria<\/h3>\n

Modern biotechnology opens up new pathways for the direct utilization of CO2<\/sub> as a carbon\u00a0 source in fermentation processes according to two main, and very different, strategies.\u00a0 In one strategy, CO2<\/sub> is directly fed to microalgae, either genetically modified or not, in\u00a0 specially designed photo-bioreactors or open ponds. The CO2<\/sub> is directly used by the\u00a0 microalgae to grow, and the product is the final biomass. This strategy allows the production\u00a0 of different kind of chemicals and has attracted a lot of interest for the production of \u201cdiesellike\u201d\u00a0 fuels, especially aviation fuel.\u00a0 The other strategy involves the use of genetically modified bacteria that are able to use the\u00a0 CO2<\/sub> as a carbon source for their metabolism and as the backbone for producing a specially\u00a0 designed molecule. Although this field is still in its infancy with no commercial exploitation\u00a0 as yet, it is one of the most promising biotechnological routes towards creating tomorrow\u00a0 chemicals. Modern biotechnology offers the possibility to \u201creprogram\u201d bacteria and turn them\u00a0 into a chemical plan that is able to synthetize virtually any target molecule.<\/p>\n

Step 4: Artificial photosynthesis as an efficient chemical process to split water directly\u00a0with photons (via catalyst) and reform hydrocarbons into fuel, chemicals and plastics<\/h3>\n

Status: Panasonic showed summer 2012 the first running prototype of an artificial\u00a0photosynthesis to produce formic acid<\/h3>\n

Artificial leaves and trees use artificial photosynthesis in a fully integrated system by direct\u00a0use of photons via photochemical water splitting in order to generate hydrocarbons. Hydrogen\u00a0and CO2<\/sub>-based processes can convert them via artificial photosynthesis into a wide spectrum\u00a0of fuels (incl. aviation fuels), chemicals and polymers \u2013 and even produce fermentable sugars\u00a0as feed for downstream biotechnological processes to access complex molecules.\u00a0Early technological breakthroughs in this field show us a technology that is compatible with\u00a0large industrial as well as decentralized local use and robust enough for long-term operations.<\/p>\n

Different research projects have set clear targets such as being fully cost-competitive in terms\u00a0of productivity, having a low environmental impact (construction, use and end of life) and not\u00a0using costly or rare elements as a catalyst.\u00a0The efficiency of the first artificial (chemical) photosynthesis is already at the same level as\u00a0natural (biological) photosynthesis; the aim is to multiply efficiency by a factor of ten.<\/p>\n

Step 5: CO2<\/sub> recovery from the atmosphere<\/h3>\n

Status: Research into more efficient and cost-competitive absorption of CO2<\/sub> from the\u00a0atmosphere.<\/h3>\n

With fast developing absorption and cleaning technology it will be possible to take CO2<\/sub>\u00a0directly from the atmosphere \u2013 all over the globe. That would represent a huge step towards\u00a0ensuring a sustainable and infinite raw material supply for industry and society.<\/p>\n

The vision is of a world powered by solar material and fuel, splitting fresh and sea water\u00a0using sunlight and CO2<\/sub> to produce food, materials, fuels, oxygen and also fresh water from\u00a0sea water. A world powered by artificial photosynthesis, in which a growing proportion of\u00a0human-engineered structures operate like artificial trees to feed the demands of industry and\u00a0society, will lead to a truly sustainable world.<\/p>\n

Because these technologies can be used almost everywhere, they arguable involve a moral\u00a0imperative to address internationally agreed targets to reduce poverty and the lack of\u00a0necessary food, energy and material as expressed in the United Nations Millennium\u00a0Development Goals (2012).<\/p>\n

Conference on Carbon Dioxide as Feedstock for Chemistry and Polymers<\/strong><\/p>\n

October 10th-11th 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

Haus der Technik, Essen, Germany<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please find the final programme at: www.co2-chemistry.eu<\/a><\/p>\n

Nova expects at least 400 international participants from the industry and academia. The\u00a0conference language will be English.\u00a0Don’t miss the world’s largest event on CO2<\/sub> as feedstock for chemistry and polymers in 2012!<\/p>\n

Use the unique opportunity to gain early and comprehensive information on this innovative\u00a0future-oriented sector!<\/p>\n

Press release as PDF file:\u00a012-09-24 CO2 press release<\/a><\/p>\n

Responsible under press legislation (V.i.S.d.P.):<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dipl.-Phys. Michael Carus (Managing Director)<\/p>\n

nova-Institut GmbH, Chemiepark Knapsack, Industriestrasse 300, DE-50354 Huerth<\/p>\n

(Germany)<\/p>\n

Internet: www.nova-institute.eu<\/a> and www.bio-based.eu<\/a><\/p>\n

Email: contact@nova-institut.de<\/a><\/p>\n

Phone: +49 (0) 22 33-48 14 40<\/p>\n

nova-Institute is a private and independent institute, founded in 1994; nova offers<\/p>\n

research and consultancy with a focus on bio-based and CO2<\/sub>-based economy in the<\/p>\n

fields of feedstock, techno-economic evaluation, markets, LCA, dissemination, B2B<\/p>\n

communication and policy. Today, nova-Institute has more than 20 employees and an<\/p>\n

annual turnover of about 1.8 Mio. \u20ac.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The chemical industry and the solar industry are partners in developing artificial\u00a0photosynthesis to produce sustainable carbon without using biomass. Solar fuels and\u00a0solar materials cover the demands of society and industry. This will change the face of\u00a0the world dramatically and sets out a realistic pathway towards a truly sustainable\u00a0society with infinite resources from CO2 recycling. Regarding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","nova_meta_subtitle":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572],"tags":[],"supplier":[1108,75,2105,4,608],"class_list":["post-21594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bio-based","supplier-achema","supplier-basf-se","supplier-bayer-materialscience-ag","supplier-nova-institut-gmbh","supplier-siemens-ag"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21594\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21594"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=21594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}