3: Cradle-to-Cradle: The New Circular Economy
CO2
Utilisation
Cradle-to-cradle means the “make new from old” concept of
“sustaining” a raw material in a continuous cycle. 5000 tons per annum poly-oil
are only the beginning, they say in Leverkusen. Covestro interprets the
investment as an opportunity of experiencing the technology. Interested third
parties will be given access to the process within the framework of a license
(see box). A gigantic effort considering the global demand of 15 billion tons
of PUR – a market with an average 5% growth rate per annum.
The hunt continues
Elsewhere too, the test tubes are glowing: In April 2016, the
biotechnology company Brain and Südzucker disclosed that it is working on the
microbiological synthesis of Carboxylic acid from CO2.
After the first trials with a two-phase process on a laboratory
scale, the Strategic Alliance Zero Carb FP process is being tested at a
bio-ethanol plant in Phase 2. In this context, the intermediate products
occurring from CO2 like mono- or di Carboxylic acid will be
used to manufacture polymers and plastics.
Even formic acid is being queried as target molecule, as it occurs
under comparatively milder reaction conditions (approx. 30 bar and
25 °C). At present, scientists of the University of Stuttgart, of the
German Centre for Air and Space Travel and of the Plinke Company are working on
this project.
Researchers are relying on catalytic micro-reactors with which 1.5 kg of CO2 is
being converted at present per sqm. of electrode area per hour. Formic acid is
required in the textile industry, but it can also serve as energy storage, as
it disintegrates into Hydrogen and CO2.
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