CO2PERATE

The main objective of the project is the development of technologies for the conversion of CO₂ to value-added chemicals using catalysis and renewable energy. To benchmark, compare and develop the various technologies, the formation of formic acid is selected as the initial target.

The first major objective is the formation of formic acid out of CO₂ and renewable H₂. To this end, 3 different catalytic technologies will be developed. At the end of the project, the project partners want to be able to select the best technology for a certain context (CO₂ source, purity and intended product) for the conversion of CO₂. A decision support framework will be developed to support this decision process. Via a techno-economic analysis, the different catalytic routes towards formic acid will be benchmarked against each other and against the classical process of formic acid production via base-catalyzed carbonylation of methanol.

The second major objective is the valorization of the produced formic acid. On the one hand, formic acid will be used as a building block for the bio-catalytic production of value-added chemicals such as single cell proteins. On the other hand, the use of formic acid as a hydrogen carrier will be evaluated. When utilizing the H₂ upon conversion of formic acid, CO₂ is released which can be used again in combination with a new supply of H₂ for the formation of formic acid according to a true circular approach.