Industrial chemicals from waste biogenic CO2 derived from UK Anaerobic Digestion plants

Summary:

Many researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders are beginning to realise the important positive contributions that negative carbon emissions can make towards the achievement of Net Zero by 2020. Low-carbon processes that use biomass and organic waste feedstocks such as anaerobic digestion, fermentation and biomass-fired power plants still generate a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2). Utilising the CO2 emitted from these sources to make long-live chemicals is a form of negative carbon emission, by locking up the CO2 in materials for a long time.

Mono Carbon Limited and Aston University will partner to carry out a technical review and series of experimental work on the development of a new technology route for CO2 utilisation as a feedstock to produce biobased platform chemicals. The project will focus on the availability and benefits of utilising CO2 waste streams from existing and proposed UK Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants. The study will substantiate the market opportunity for the targeted biobased chemical, as a chemical product outcome or as an intermediate to produce secondary and tertiary materials and polymers for long-term carbon storage. This will also provide the background to consider wider platform chemical options to further develop the innovative utilisation of biogenic CO2 from AD plants, offering a potential business opportunity for integrated AD biorefineries.

This project is currently underway. Aims, objectives and impact will be publicised upon completion.

Academic partner: Jude Onwudili, Aston University

Industrial partner: Sergio Blanco-Rosete, Mono Carbon Limited