Headline: BMBF status conference on CO₂ as a chemical feedstock

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is more than waste and a climate pollutant: Several usage alternatives for CO₂are being explored in research projects in scientific institutions and in the industry. The BMBF is supporting these efforts as part of the “Hightech-Strategie” of the Federal Government.

On April 9th and 10th, the BMBF is hosting the 3rd status conference for “Technologies for sustainability and climate protection – chemical processes and usage of CO₂ as chemical feedstock”. Prof. Dr. Johanna Wanka, Federal Minister for Education and Research, will open the event followed by Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of the IASS.

At the IASS, several transdisciplinary projects are working on the basic questions of CCU technologies (Carbon Capture and Utilization) as well as their potential for economy and society. Targets of the IASS are:

• Techno-economic assessment of synthesis of methanol as new fuel and chemical platform from CO₂ and H₂
• The modeling of environmental side effects of carbon capture technologies, particularly concerning the formation of aerosol particles, tropospheric ozone and carcinogenic nitramines and nitrosamines
• The assessment of CCU-Technologies from a lifecycle perspective (LCA)
• Identification of the economic potential of CCU-technologies in Germany and Europe
• Analysis and development of communication strategies for CCU-technologies and products and their acceptance among different interest groups

The guiding idea of the IASS projects is the development of a carbon dioxide circular economy (zero waste) by value creation from low energy and climate polluting waste. One of the consequences would be the reduction of dependencies on fossil resources like oil as fuel and as feedstock for the production of chemicals. Also, a reduction of the energy needed in the production process of these products compared to conventional products seems possible.

A temporary reduction of atmospheric CO₂ is initially given by emission retardation. To what extent substances or products made of CO₂ in turn will finally be part of a recycling process is also a research objective.

Partners of the projects at the IASS are RWTH Aachen and Bayer Material Science (platform ETS), the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (Cluster SIWA).

Bildquelle: Jezperklauzen (a) Istockphoto

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