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At least 145 records · Page 8

Gasification of Coal and Biomass: The Route to Net-Negative-Carbon Power and Hydrogen

One promising process that is a candidate for meeting the goals of the US Department of Energy’s 21st Century Power Plant initiative is to gasify a mixture of coal and biomass to yield a syngas, which can have CO2 removed and then be used to produce hydrogen as well as an off-gas that can be used to flexibly produce power. This concept would overall be carbon net-negative and readily meet the 21st Century Power Plant initiative targets of smaller scale MW generation, high ramp rates and turndown, feedstock flexibility, and high efficiency—at a reasonable cost. Moreover, adding the large-scale production of “ultra-green” hydrogen yields a system tailored for the coming hydrogen economy, providing long-term energy storage and an attractive co-product for sale. The objective of the work being led by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), with support by Bechtel Corporation (Bechtel), Gas Technology Institute (GTI), Hamilton Mauer International, Inc. (HMI), Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), NexantECA, Inc. (Nexant), and Wärtsilä, is to perform a front-end design and engineering (FEED) study on an oxygen-blown gasification system coupled with water-gas shift, pre-combustion CO2 capture, and pressure-swing adsorption working off a coal/biomass mix to yield high-purity hydrogen and a fuel off-gas that can generate power. Several designs are being considered that will be capable of producing 50 MW net from a flexible generator, over 8500 kg/hr of hydrogen, and net-negative CO2 emissions, at an efficiency of 50% net HHV. The plant would be hosted at an NPPD site, where opportunities for enhanced oil recovery and sequestration have been investigated and the need for low-carbon power and hydrogen is imminent. The principal biomass to be used is corn stover—prevalent in Nebraska where the plant will be located—mixed with Powder River Basin (PRB) coal, necessitating a gasifier that can use this feedstock and be flexible to allow other types. Waste plastics will also be reviewed for use. Two oxygen-blown gasifiers have been identified as candidates that have done testing with biomass including corn stover: the GTI gasifier—a high-pressure, fluidized-bed type—and HMI’s, a lower pressure moving-bed type. Both have relative advantages that were investigated in the Phase I design study, with a resultant down select of one system for which the FEED will be performed in Phase II. The technical tasks for the project are: • Design Development: Completion of design activities necessary to provide inputs for the FEED study. Multiple design cases will be assessed with the selection of the optimal one for the FEED. • Investment Case Preparation: Development of the draft investment case for the proposed process with business cases performed for the proposed host site and two other locations. • Host Site Selection: Evaluation of the two potential host sites within NPPD’s portfolio to select the preferred candidate based on technical, economic, and environmental considerations. • Environmental Information Volume (EIV) Development: Completion of the EIV for the host site. • FEED Study: Completion of a FEED study based on the design selected in Phase I. A Greenhouse Gas Life Cycle Analysis will also be performed for the process. • Update Investment Case: Finalization of the investment case based on findings from the FEED. The advantages of the proposed project are significant. Having an engaged U.S. power utility willing to provide a host site that will produce energy from coal plus a deep and experienced team is critical; the process meets all the goals of DOE’s 21st Century Power Plant initiative at an estimated total plant cost of ~$880M and a production cost of hydrogen of ~$2/kg-H2 while producing net-negative carbon power. If developed, this process has real commercial potential in the United States—supported by EPRI’s initial review of the considerable interest from selected U.S. utilities—and elsewhere around the globe. The process has fewer environmental hurdles compared to other concepts, lowering regulatory and protest risks—providing a pathway to preserving the viability of a critical indigenous energy source by transforming its use to match a changing world. This presentation outlines the motivation for the effort, summarizes project plans, work completed to date, results of the Phase I effort and, and detailed work scope for the remainder of the project in the Phase II FEED effort.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Mono-Ether and Alcohol Bioblendstocks to Reduce the Fuel Penalty of Mixing Controlled Compression Ignition (MCCI) Engine Aftertreatment

An integrated approach utilizing catalysis experiments, process systems engineering, fuel property modeling, and engine testing was utilized in this project to optimize the production process and composition of a #2 diesel bioblendstock produced from ethanol consisting primarily of long-chain mono-ethers. The primary objective of the project was to determine the composition and to design the production process for a bioblendstock for #2 diesel fuel with > 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to conventional diesel fuel. The desired bioblendstock needed to be blendable with #2 diesel fuel at > 5 vol. % while still meeting ASTM D975 diesel fuel specification properties and achieving improvements in fuel properties: increased cetane number, decreased sooting, and reduced pour point and cloud point temperatures. At the same time, it needed to reduce the fuel energy penalty associated with MCCI engine aftertreatment resulting in improved system efficiency. The findings of the current project demonstrate that primary objective of the work has been met, i.e., to determine the composition and to design the production process for a bioblendstock for #2 diesel fuel with > 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to conventional diesel fuel. Additionally, the results indicate that the property objectives (increased cetane number, reduced pour and cloud points, and reduced sooting propensity) for the designed bioblendstock composition have also been met. Engine testing performed has also confirmed that the increased reactivity of the bioblendstock can be used to improve catalyst heating operation and to reduce the fuel penalty associated with this operation mode. The fuel property results demonstrate that >5 vol.% blending is easily achieved while meeting the ASTM D975 #2 diesel fuel property specifications tested in this work, as this was achieved for a blend with 43 vol. % of the bioblendstock. The results provide a foundation for future work to scaleup the catalytic production process designed in this work, with many of the challenges and areas for improvement being identified in this work to enable economic production with low GHG lifecycle emissions.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Western Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership (Final Technical Report)

Since 2018, the Western Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership (CHP TAP) has been dedicated to advancing the adoption and implementation of Combined Heat and Power. The CHP TAP has diligently worked towards its mission of fostering end-user engagement, promoting technical solutions, and enhancing energy security within the region. As we reflect on our journey, we are proud to announce the completion of the required metrics set forth at the beginning of our endeavor. From the outset, our aim has been clear: to leverage CHP technology as a catalyst for bolstering American competitiveness, utilizing local fuels, and fortifying energy resilience. Through collaborative efforts with a diverse array of stakeholders, including manufacturing, commercial, institutional, and federal facilities, and campuses, we have strived to realize this vision. In this report, we outline the achievements, activities, and impact of the Western CHP TAP, highlighting the transformative journey undertaken since 2018. From providing technical assistance and guidance to conducting educational workshops and advocating for supportive policies, our initiatives have been guided by a commitment to excellence and innovation. As we celebrate the completion of our required metrics, we reaffirm our dedication to continuing our mission, building upon our accomplishments, and shaping a sustainable energy future for the Western region. Through ongoing collaboration and engagement, we are confident that the Western CHP TAP will continue to serve as a beacon of progress and a catalyst for positive change in the years to come.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Poly(oxymethylene) Ethers as a High Cetane, Low Sooting Biofuel Blendstock for Use in Medium to Heavy Duty Mixing Controlled Compression Ignition Engines

Compression ignition (CI) engines are currently the most common prime mover for medium and heavy duty vehicles; these engines contribute roughly a quarter of US greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, and even higher percentages of particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions. As a result, there have been significant efforts made to reduce these emissions, particularly through selection of low-emissions alternative fuels. Oxymethylene ethers (OMEs) are a class of molecule, typically structured R-O-(CH2O)n-R', which have been considered as a possible blendstock in CI fuels for the goal of soot reduction. Generally, past work has focused on methyl-terminated OMEs, CH3-O-(CH2O)n-CH3, which by virtue of containing no C--C bonds, produce negligible soot. These molecules show significant reductions in soot emission from engines when blended in moderate to high ratios with traditional diesels, however, they have been shown to have inferior physical properties and poor compatibility with some legacy systems. Recent theoretical work has shown that OMEs with non-methyl alkyl groups may have superior performance, albeit at the cost of increased soot formation. In this work, a variety of OMEs with terminating alkyl groups from methyl to butyl are considered for their suitability as CI fuels. The synthesis of these extended OMEs is studied, including formation of n=1 OMEs from common chemical sources, and extension of the chain length to heavier molecules, via reactions over acidic ion exchange resins. Following the synthesis, the properties of these OMEs are studied with respect to their engine applicability. It is found that heavier (propyl- and butyl-terminated) OMEs have superior properties for diesel compatibility, particularly in reactivity, volatility, and water solubility. Extended-alkyl OMEs are found to have higher soot production than methyl-terminated OMEs, but remain superior to diesel soot production on a per-unit-energy basis. A sample of a butyl-terminated OME mixture, n=2-4, is selected as the ideal OME blend for close compatibility with legacy diesel systems. This mixture is blended with certified diesel and tested for ASTM D975 compatibility, passing all required tests but lubricity; decreased heat of combustion is observed but not governed by the diesel standard. Fundamental combustion tests of various mid-weight OMEs are performed in a rapid compression machine, where it is shown that low-temperature chemistry causes a region of decreased dependence of ignition delay on temperature, consistent with methyl-terminated OME behavior. An isopropyl-terminated OME is observed to have low reactivity compared to other OMEs; this fuel is investigated via further rapid compression machine testing and CFR engine testing. It is found that this OME has strong negative-temperature-coefficient ignition behavior - a first for OMEs - and has reactivity lower than other OMEs, but insufficient for direct spark ignition engine testing.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Performance Testing of a Moving Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends to Generate White Hydrogen

The objective of this DOE-funded project by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), Hamilton Maurer International (HMI) and Sotacarbo S.p.A. (Sotacarbo), is to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected pellet recipes in a pilot-scale updraft moving-bed gasifier. The testing provides relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to be able to successfully use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. In particular, the effects of the waste plastics on feedstock development (i.e., blending and pelletizing) and the resulting products (i.e., syngas compositions, organic condensate production, and ash characteristics) are a focus. The gasifier is Hamilton Mauer International, Inc. (HMI)’s moving-bed gasifier, which has been proven capable of gasifying nearly all coal ranks. It has also shown the ability in prior testing work to gasify wood chips. However, mixtures of these fuels with plastic wastes had not yet been prepared and gasified together. The feedstocks were prepared by California Pellet Mill (CPM) under contract to HMI. The technical tasks for this research project included: • Feed Procurement and Preparation: Nine different feedstocks were prepared from varying compositions of PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and car fluff waste plastics. Fuel pellets were produced by California Pellet Mill (CPM) and shipped to Sotacarbo’s test facility in Italy. • Test Plan Development: A test plan was created to define the test runs to be performed. The test plan detailed the different tests that were run, instrumentation used, extractive samples taken, and relevant figures of merit. • Gasifier Testing: Tests were performed in the pilot-scale gasifier at Sotacarbo using nine different fuel feedstocks generated from varying mixtures of coal, biomass, and plastic wastes. The testing provides information on gasification reaction efficiency/performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design. This task will also included work to reassemble the gasifier at Sotacarbo and perform a baseline 100% coal run. • Data Analysis and Reporting: Review of the data, determination of figures of merit, and interpretation of the results was reported. The results can be used to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends. The tri-fuel pelletizing conducted at CPM and gasification testing results from Sotacarbo’s 30mm up draft moving bed gasifier are significant. Providing data for an established gasifier to help accelerate its updated design to be able to accommodate feedstocks composed of coal, biomass, and plastic waste. This should ultimately lead to development and commercialization of a lower cost, white hydrogen generation system.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Performance Testing of a Moving-Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends to Generate White Hydrogen

The objective of this DOE-funded project by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), Hamilton Maurer International (HMI) and Sotacarbo S.p.A. (Sotacarbo), is to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected pellet recipes in a pilot-scale updraft moving-bed gasifier. The testing provides relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to be able to successfully use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. In particular, the effects of the waste plastics on feedstock development (i.e., blending and pelletizing) and the resulting products (i.e., syngas compositions, organic condensate production, and ash characteristics) are a focus. The gasifier is Hamilton Mauer International, Inc. (HMI)’s moving-bed gasifier, which has been proven capable of gasifying nearly all coal ranks. It has also shown the ability in prior testing work to gasify wood chips. However, mixtures of these fuels with plastic wastes had not yet been prepared and gasified together. The feedstocks were prepared by California Pellet Mill (CPM) under contract to HMI. The technical tasks for this research project included: • Feed Procurement and Preparation: Nine different feedstocks were prepared from varying compositions of PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and car fluff waste plastics. Fuel pellets were produced by California Pellet Mill (CPM) and shipped to Sotacarbo’s test facility in Italy. • Test Plan Development: A test plan was created to define the test runs to be performed. The test plan detailed the different tests that were run, instrumentation used, extractive samples taken, and relevant figures of merit. • Gasifier Testing: Tests were performed in the pilot-scale gasifier at Sotacarbo using nine different fuel feedstocks generated from varying mixtures of coal, biomass, and plastic wastes. The testing provides information on gasification reaction efficiency/performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design. This task will also included work to reassemble the gasifier at Sotacarbo and perform a baseline 100% coal run. • Data Analysis and Reporting: Review of the data, determination of figures of merit, and interpretation of the results was reported. The results can be used to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends. The tri-fuel pelletizing conducted at CPM and gasification testing results from Sotacarbo’s 30mm up draft moving bed gasifier are significant. Providing data for an established gasifier to help accelerate its updated design to be able to accommodate feedstocks composed of coal, biomass, and plastic waste. This should ultimately lead to development and commercialization of a lower cost, white hydrogen generation system.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Gasification of Mixed Blends of Coal, Biomass, and Plastic Waste

The objective of this DOE-funded project by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), Hamilton Maurer International (HMI) and Sotacarbo S.p.A. (Sotacarbo), is to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected pellet recipes in a pilot-scale updraft moving-bed gasifier. The testing provides relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to be able to successfully use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. In particular, the effects of the waste plastics on feedstock development (i.e., blending and pelletizing) and the resulting products (i.e., syngas compositions, organic condensate production, and ash characteristics) are a focus. The gasifier is Hamilton Mauer International, Inc. (HMI)’s moving-bed gasifier, which has been proven capable of gasifying nearly all coal ranks. It has also shown the ability in prior testing work to gasify wood chips. However, mixtures of these fuels with plastic wastes had not yet been prepared and gasified together. The feedstocks were prepared by California Pellet Mill (CPM) under contract to HMI. The technical tasks for this research project included: • Feed Procurement and Preparation: Nine different feedstocks were prepared from varying compositions of PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and car fluff waste plastics. Fuel pellets were produced by California Pellet Mill (CPM) and shipped to Sotacarbo’s test facility in Italy. • Test Plan Development: A test plan was created to define the test runs to be performed. The test plan detailed the different tests that were run, instrumentation used, extractive samples taken, and relevant figures of merit. • Gasifier Testing: Tests were performed in the pilot-scale gasifier at Sotacarbo using nine different fuel feedstocks generated from varying mixtures of coal, biomass, and plastic wastes. The testing provides information on gasification reaction efficiency/performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design. This task will also included work to reassemble the gasifier at Sotacarbo and perform a baseline 100% coal run. • Data Analysis and Reporting: Review of the data, determination of figures of merit, and interpretation of the results was reported. The results can be used to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends. The tri-fuel pelletizing conducted at CPM and gasification testing results from Sotacarbo’s 30mm up draft moving bed gasifier are significant. Providing data for an established gasifier to help accelerate its updated design to be able to accommodate feedstocks composed of coal, biomass, and plastic waste. This should ultimately lead to development and commercialization of a lower cost, white hydrogen generation system.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Dehydration Membrane Reactor for Production of Valuable Chemicals from CO 2 and H 2

GTI Energy and partners have been developing a technology for production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and hydrogen (H 2 ) using a novel catalytic membrane reactor. The reactor contains a bi-functional catalyst for methanol synthesis and LPG synthesis, resulting in LPG production in a single reactor. A transformational dehydration membrane is used to remove water in situ, shifting the thermodynamic equilibrium towards product formation. As a result, CO 2 conversion as high as 90.2% and LPG yield as high as 60.5% were obtained at 300°C and 20 bara in the membrane reactor, which significantly exceed the literature results of the traditional reactors

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Analyzing Tradeoffs Associated with the Manufacture of Refined Fuels by Comparing Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions Model Results with Carbon Impacts

A first-of-its kind, publicly-available model for estimating emissions of volatile organic compounds from operations along the supply chain of liquid fuels and refinery products is presented and demonstrated. This standardized model permits comprehensive, reproducible, and comparable evaluation of the supply chain/life cycle VOC emissions of liquid fuels and refinery products.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

LOCOMOTIVES - Comprehensive Impact and Cost Assessment Framework of Carbon Lowering Approaches for the US Rail Freight System

The goal of this project is to develop a tool to aid railroads and other stakeholders assess and approach the decarbonization of freight rail operations by identifying new, viable low-carbon energy storage and conversion systems for future locomotive systems and how they should be deployed on the existing US freight rail network. In the first quarter, the project focused on collecting data, establishing a simulation workflow, and engaging industry through the creation of the Industry Advisory Board (IAB). In the second quarter, the project focused on selecting fuel pathways and powertrain technologies, setting performance targets, conducting a techno-economic analyses, and developing the simulation framework that would serve as the backbone of the future toolhead. The third quarter involved developing an industry-oriented interactive dashboard powered by a five-step sequential framework, as well as holding industry advisory board meetings as per the initial technology-to-market plan. In the remaining project quarters, the NUFRIEND dashboard were fine-tuned with the help of IAB member feedback and in-depth scenario analyses were conducted to support the techno-economic analysis of energy sources. Additionally, dashboard documentation, project insights, and open-source code on GitHub were prepared and released. Throughout the project, the team completed testing and analysis of all model components, integrated all initial test scenarios, and conducted stakeholder engagement. Lower-carbon drop-in fuels can be deployed as admixtures and are considered uniform across the network at a desired penetration rate, while hydrogen and battery-electric technology deployment poses a more complex problem as they require significant investments to be made in the siting of refueling/charging facilities and the replacement of locomotive fleets. Thus, strategies for locating and sizing refueling/charging facilities on a railroad’s network to meet their energy demands were developed to inform deployment decisions. To address this challenge, the Northwestern University Freight Rail Infrastructure & Energy Network Decarbonization (NUFRIEND) framework presents a five-step sequential framework to select O-D paths, locate facilities, reroute flows, size facilities, and evaluate the deployment for alternative energy sources that require locomotive powertrains to be converted and new refueling infrastructure to be deployed. The NUFRIEND Framework is an industry-oriented tool for simulating the deployment of new energy technologies across the US freight rail network. The framework provides a comprehensive network-level optimization and scenario simulation tool for decarbonizing the freight rail sector, addressing the uncertainties surrounding technological developments by supporting sensitivity analyses for different operational and technological parameters through a transparent and flexible input module. It offers practical alternatives to diesel locomotives and can be applied for any railroad considering the specific network structure and freight demand, outputting evaluation metrics for the associated emissions and costs relative to diesel operations. A number of relevant simulation scenarios were run and analyzed for key insights on the value of different alternative technologies for freight rail decarbonization. The project developments and findings have been presented at numerous conferences and events.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Integration of IH 2 ® with Cool Reformer for the Conversion of Cellulosic Biomass to Drop In Fuels

GTI Energy has integrated the Cool Reformer technology with the IH 2® -50 pilot plant (which can process a maximum of 50kg/day of biomass feed) to demonstrate the suitability of this new reforming technology for producing hydrogen within IH 2 ® process. As part of this study, we showed that all of the hydrogen required for the IH 2® process could be produced from steam reforming the IH 2® light gas generated within the process and the system can be integrated in a cost-effective way compared to the use of standard SMRs.

08 HYDROGEN↗

An Experimental and Computational Approach to Investigating CO 2 Uptake of Cellulose-producing Algae from Cellulosic Ethanol Production (Final Report)

This project combined experimental algal cultures with predictive quantum calculations to evaluate system-level CO 2 uptake and conversion efficiency of cellulose-producing Nannochloropsis sp. algae. Recently, Nannochloropsis sp. has garnered attention as a novel host organism for converting low-cost CO 2 produced from cellulosic ethanol fermentations into algal lipids for biodiesel production and microcrystalline cellulose as a high-value co-product. As depicted in the figure below, this project (1) optimized Nannochloropsis salina (N. salina) cultures on effluent gas produced directly from cellulosic ethanol fermentation, (2) characterized the fermentation products, quantify cellulose production, and calculate CO 2 uptake efficiency with predictive quantum calculations, (3) conducted a life cycle and techno economic analysis of the proposed integration, and (4) provided training opportunities to students attending UC Riverside.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Modular Biomass Gasification for Co-Production of Hydrogen and Power

The overall goal of this project was to demonstrate a novel process-intensified and modular Combined Hydrogen, Heat and Power (CH 2 P) production technology, targeting commercial scales of 5-to-10-megawatt electric (MWe) equivalent of hydrogen (H 2 ). The process technology integrates a novel adaptation of the steam-iron process to produce high purity H 2 from gasification of biomass and biomass blends with a compression-ready carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) stream, enabling significant progress towards achieving $1 per kilogram (kg) cost for clean H 2 .

08 HYDROGEN↗

Producing Jet Fuel from Biogas Using Cool GTL SM

GTI Energy advanced the development of Cool GTL SM through a multi-phase project that studied and confirmed the promising value of this technology. It optimized the process by creating an integrated pilot plant capable of producing 50 gallons of total liquid hydrocarbon fuel. It also performed testing campaigns and developed a conceptual commercial design to support technoeconomic and life-cycle analyses, resulting in data that demonstrated a greenhouse gas emissions benefit.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Processing Municipal Solid Waste for Conversion to Jet Fuel (Final Technical Report)

This final report describes the successful demonstration of AI‑assisted waste sorting and a novel pressurized solids feed system to enable conversion of non‑recyclable municipal solid waste to jet fuel under DOE Award DE‑EE0009265. Results include improved feedstock purity and variability reduction, lab‑scale testing, and technoeconomic and life‑cycle assessments.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Catalytic Membrane Reactors Based on Carbon Molecular Sieve Hollow Fiber Membranes for Sustainable and Modular H 2 Production

We aimed to develop a catalytic membrane reactor (CMR) that couples water–gas shift (WGS) reaction with in-situ H 2 separation to produce blue H 2 and a CO 2 -rich stream from coal- and biomass-derived syngas. Our core approach employs high-permeance carbon molecular sieve (CMS) hollow-fiber membranes (HFMs) with strong gas separation ability, which we further integrate into catalytic membrane reactors to intensify H 2 production and CO 2 capture in a single unit. Three organizations with complementary skills collaborated to achieve the goal, including the University at Buffalo (UB), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and Trimeric Corporation (Trimeric).

08 HYDROGEN↗

Rockies / Plains Energy Accelerator for Commercializing Hardtech (REACH)

This document is the final report for the Rockies/Plains Energy Accelerator for Commercializing Hard-Tech (REACH), a U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE)-funded energy hard tech accelerator jointly led by Colorado State University and Innosphere Ventures. Both organizations are located in Fort Collins, CO.

08 HYDROGEN↗

A Review of the Use of Immobilized Ionic Liquids in the Electrochemical Conversion of CO2

This paper is a review on the application of imidazolium-based ionic liquids tethered to polymer backbones in the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to carbon monoxide and formic acid. These tethered ionic liquids have been incorporated into novel anion ion exchange membranes for CO2 electrolysis, as well as for ionomers that have been incorporated into the cathode catalyst layer, providing a co-catalyst for the reduction reaction. In using these tethered ionic liquids in the cathode catalyst composition, the cell operating current increased by a factor of two or more. The Faradaic efficiencies also increased by 20–30%. This paper provides a review of the literature, in addition to providing some new experimental results from Dioxide Materials, in the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO and formic acid.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗