“Plasma-electrification of chemical produce – towards a green circular industry with net-zero carbon output and sustainable processing (Planet)”
Summary:
Project PLANET develops non-thermal plasma processes that will efficiently reduce CO2 output of Canada’s chemical industry. The respective plasma processes at mild temperature operating conditions will be driven by clean electrical energy. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the chemical production sector today generates 1.3 tons of CO2 for each ton of primary chemicals. The chemical industry is furthermore responsible for 10% of the global energy consumption powered by fossil fuel. Chemical production – with fossil carbohydrates being the industry’s primary feedstock – thus contributes to more than 5.5% of the global CO2 output. The IEA calls for an imperative reduction of the industry’s carbon footprint by 17% from today’s values by 2030. To meet this aim, electrification of chemical production by non-thermal plasma processes proves highly promising.
The objective of PLANET is to develop a scalable plasma process that uses electricity to perform molecular conversion. Our approach is to control a supplied electric field by combining voltage waveform tailored radio frequency excitation with high voltage pulses of nanosecond duration. This allows to operate a plasma in an optimal regime. PLANET will validate the plasma process for its scalability and efficiency by modeling and ultrafast laser-based diagnostics. In summary, we will use cold plasma processes for CO2 reforming to reduce the carbon content in the atmosphere, as well as for generating fixated nitrogen – delocalized and on-demand – to reach a sustainable industrial agriculture. Advantages of non-thermal plasmas include mild operating conditions, easy upscaling, and gas activation not by thermal energy but by energetic electrons. This allows for thermodynamically difficult reactions – such as CO2 and N2 splitting – at reasonable energy cost. Plasma-chemical conversion processes make it possible to reuse chemical waste products as source for valuable chemicals and fuels, such as syngas and methanol or NOx based plant nutrients. Canada’s society and environment will benefit from PLANET for a net-zero and a truly circular economy.
Project Partners:
S. Reuter, D. Seletzkiy, Th. Mussenbrock, I. Korolov
Funding:
DFG – NSERC (CRSNG ALLRP 580385 – 22)