Development of a catalytic membrane reactor for the efficient production of methanol through the hydrogenation of CO2 with regenerative hydrogen in the gas phase on a heterogeneous catalyst

PROJECT BLOG (IN GERMAN)

► Article of June 2019 Special Newsletter Hydrogen + Fuel Cells on the occasion of f-cell 2019 (external link)

Project goals

The main idea of ​​the project is to shift the equilibrium of the methanol synthesis by separating a product in order to increase the yield of the desired product. As a result the reaction can also be carried out economically with expensive starting products such as green hydrogen. For this purpose membranes and membrane-catalyst combinations have to be developed, coupled in terms of process technology and tested under real conditions and for practical suitability. The overall process concept should allow the integration of a wide range of CO₂ sources.

The target parameters of the innovative concept are:

• Development of new catalysts and membranes;
• Significant increase in methanol yield compared to CO₂ hydrogenation in a fixed bed reactor;
• Increase in reactor throughput while saving energy;
• Realization of min. 3 process steps in one reactor (process intensification) and
• Integration of heat management system for waste heat utilization for provided processes (e.g. amine washes).

Application

The economic goal is to achieve a process of methanol synthesis based on the use of CO₂ and regenerative hydrogen. The project  enables the HYPOS network to use H₂ more variably and intensively and opens up new ways of using it as well as the possibility of storing H₂ in the form of liquid methanol. Methanol is a valuable product and is conventionally produced from natural gas or coal via synthesis gas. The project aims to make methanol synthesis from renewable sources and CO₂ economically attractive. In addition to that there is an enormous saving potential for CO₂ intensive emitters against the background of rising prices for CO₂ certificates in the future. It could become an essential aspect for the existence of CO₂-intensive heavy industry in Germany and its social acceptance.