Liquid Light has unveiled its new process for the production of major chemicals from carbon dioxide to showcase its demonstration-scale ‘reaction cell’ and confirm the potential for cost-advantaged process economics.
Liquid Light’s first process is for the production of ethylene glycol, with a $27 billion annual market. The chemical is used to make consumer products such as plastic bottles, antifreeze and polyester clothing. Liquid Light’s technology can be used to produce more than 60 chemicals with large existing markets, including propylene, isopropanol, methyl-methacrylate and acetic acid.
Liquid Light’s technology is based on low-energy catalytic electrochemistry to convert CO2 to chemicals, combined with hydrogenation and purification operations. By adjusting the design of their catalyst, Liquid Light can produce a range of commercially important multi-carbon chemicals. Additionally, by using ‘co-feedstock’s’ along with CO2, a plant built with Liquid Light’s technology may produce multiple products simultaneously.
The process also reduces the overall carbon footprint for chemical production compared to conventional methods, when powered with electricity produced from natural gas, nuclear, advanced coal and renewable sources, the company says.
