Power-2-Chemicals

In the Power-2-Chemicals program line, we work on the direct electrosynthesis of chemical building blocks and higher value products using conventional and sustainable feedstock (e.g. CO₂, biomass-derived). The main challenges that are addressed are the development of electrochemical routes, reducing capital costs for electrochemical cells, increasing energy density and selectivity, choosing & using catalysts, and downstream processing.

Power-to-chemicals focuses on:
 

• Electro-organic synthesis using electro-oxidation and electro-reduction to convert renewable feedstock (e.g. biobased furfural, HMF, alcohols) to key chemical building blocks.
• Electro-reduction of CO₂ to C1 building blocks, focusing on Formic Acid, CO and Ethylene as key products.
• Paired electrosynthesis in which product is produced at both cathode and anode of the electrochemical cell.
• Alternatives for electrochemistry in conversion with electricity as the energy source, e.g. photochemistry and plasma chemistry.

VoltaChem’s short, medium and long term objectives are shown in the table below.

A typical approach for the full development of electrochemical processes can be decided in several phases:

• Literature study and expert opinion phase;
• Electrochemical system development;
• Design and development of electrochemical process (including downstream processing as well as techno-economic evaluation studies);
• System integration, pilot construction;
• Pilot testing

The total duration time is typically 3-5 years. In some cases, VoltaChem is only contracted for one or more of the phases indicated below

A few of the projects currently running can be found here.