A set of technological processes and associated equipment for synthesis of organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water

摘要

Carbon dioxide, derived directly or indirectly from the atmosphere (e.g. by sequestration from air using an absorbent or adsorbent material), and hydrogen, derived from water (e.g. by electrolysis), may be reacted to produce a range of organic compounds. Carbon dioxide and hydrogen can be converted into carbon monoxide and water (2) by the reverse water gas shift reaction (or reverse shift reaction). Carbon monoxide and hydrogen can be converted into methane by a methanation reaction (3), or methanol (4), or (by the Fischer-Tropsch process) a range of hydrocarbons. Using moving-bed catalysis (5), gaseous and light liquid fuels (6) such as alcohols, petrol (gasoline) and paraffin (kerosine) can be produced. Using fixed-bed catalysis (7), heavy fuels (8) such as diesel oil can be produced. Such fuels may be used for energy production, for combustion in an engine and for generating electricity in a fuel cell. Heat produced in exothermic reactions may be recovered and used to reduce the energy input requirements of the electrolytic conversion of water to hydrogen and of endothermic reactions.