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Electrified hydrocarbon-to-oxygenates coupled to hydrogen evolution for efficient greenhouse gas mitigation

Author

Listed:
  • Wan Ru Leow

    (University of Toronto
    Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR))

  • Simon Völker

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • Raoul Meys

    (RWTH Aachen University
    Carbon Minds GmbH)

  • Jianan Erick Huang

    (University of Toronto)

  • Shaffiq A. Jaffer

    (TOTAL American Services Inc.)

  • André Bardow

    (RWTH Aachen University
    ETH Zürich
    Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH)

  • Edward H. Sargent

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

Chemicals manufacture is among the top greenhouse gas contributors. More than half of the associated emissions are attributable to the sum of ammonia plus oxygenates such as methanol, ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. Here we explore the impact of electrolyzer systems that couple electrically-powered anodic hydrocarbon-to-oxygenate conversion with cathodic H2 evolution reaction from water. We find that, once anodic hydrocarbon-to-oxygenate conversion is developed with high selectivities, greenhouse gas emissions associated with fossil-based NH3 and oxygenates manufacture can be reduced by up to 88%. We report that low-carbon electricity is not mandatory to enable a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions: global chemical industry emissions can be reduced by up to 39% even with electricity having the carbon footprint per MWh available in the United States or China today. We conclude with considerations and recommendations for researchers who wish to embark on this research direction.

Suggested Citation

  • Wan Ru Leow & Simon Völker & Raoul Meys & Jianan Erick Huang & Shaffiq A. Jaffer & André Bardow & Edward H. Sargent, 2023. "Electrified hydrocarbon-to-oxygenates coupled to hydrogen evolution for efficient greenhouse gas mitigation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37382-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37382-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sumit Verma & Shawn Lu & Paul J. A. Kenis, 2019. "Co-electrolysis of CO2 and glycerol as a pathway to carbon chemicals with improved technoeconomics due to low electricity consumption," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(6), pages 466-474, June.
    2. Cesaro, Zac & Ives, Matthew & Nayak-Luke, Richard & Mason, Mike & Bañares-Alcántara, René, 2021. "Ammonia to power: Forecasting the levelized cost of electricity from green ammonia in large-scale power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    3. Niall Mac Dowell & Paul S. Fennell & Nilay Shah & Geoffrey C. Maitland, 2017. "The role of CO2 capture and utilization in mitigating climate change," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(4), pages 243-249, April.
    4. Dong Liu & Jin-Cheng Liu & Weizheng Cai & Jun Ma & Hong Bin Yang & Hai Xiao & Jun Li & Yujie Xiong & Yanqiang Huang & Bin Liu, 2019. "Selective photoelectrochemical oxidation of glycerol to high value-added dihydroxyacetone," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
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