Regional Government of Navarra R&D Projects: E-METANOL-MW

The general objective of the project is the development of an advanced microwave (MW) assisted synthesis technology, energy efficient and sustainable, through two reactors for the conversion of CO2 into e-methanol (CH3-OH) or e-di-methyl- ether (e-DME) (CH3-O-CH3). In the first reactor (R1RWGS) CO2 will be transformed into carbon monoxide (CO) in the presence of hydrogen (H2), through the action of a MW absorber. The expected product is a synthesis gas (mixture of CO, H2 and CO2), which, after a stoichiometry adjustment (by adding H2 when necessary) would be fed to the second reactor. The second reactor (R2SYN) will convert the synthesis gas into e-methanol or directly into e-DME. The R1RWGS reactor is conceived as a non-catalytic MW-induced synthesis reactor, capable of being used for the use of gases rich in CO2 from different industrial effluents, contributing significantly to closing the carbon cycle and stopping the increase in emissions. . of greenhouse gases. Such carbon sources, in combination with green H2, coming, for example, from the electrolysis of water, and MW generated with renewable electricity, will make it possible to obtain products that are neutral in net greenhouse gas emissions such as e-methanol and e . -EMD. E-methanol is considered a way to store H2, and therefore renewable energy, with high energy density, while it is a basic chemical compound with multiple industrial applications. On the other hand, e-DME has important applications as solvents, fuel additives for diesel engines and as a substitute for liquefied petroleum gas, among others. Furthermore, both chemical products constitute part of the new generation of electrofuels (e-fuels). This approach contributes to sustainability and circularity by transforming CO2 with a disruptive technology based on the use of MW.