A novel energy-efficient technology for capturing carbon dioxide has been developed. It facilitates the conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide in the presence of water and electro catalytic conditions at ambient temperatures. This innovation holds promise for implementation within the steel industry.
To aid India’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, the DST-backed National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCoE-CCU) at IIT Bombay is diligently striving to create innovative, scalable, and cost-effective methods for capturing CO2 from different emission outlets.
Additionally, the center is focusing on transforming captured CO2 into practical chemicals or facilitating its permanent storage, presenting a pivotal approach for mitigating greenhouse gas effects.
A Team at National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCoE-CCU) has secured a Patent for CO2 to CO Conversion Technology, Set for Publication in Nature Communications.
The potential of this technology extends to diverse industrial applications, with active efforts underway to scale it through the recently established UrjanovaC Private Limited startup, particularly for its application in the steel sector. Additionally, UrjanovaC Private Limited, incubated through SINE at IIT Bombay, has acquired the licensing rights for another water-based CO2 capture and conversion to calcium carbonate technology stemming from the initiatives of DST-supported NCoE-CCU.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a widely used chemical in the industry especially in the form of syn gas. In the steel industry, CO is an essential ingredient for converting iron ores to metallic iron in blast furnaces. Currently, CO is generated by partial oxidation of coke/coal, which leads to a significant production of CO2 as an end product of this process. If this emitted CO2 can be captured and converted into CO, it can lead to a circular economy in this process while reducing the carbon footprint and associated costs. The process for CO2 to CO conversion that is widely in use currently occurs at elevated temperatures (400-750 °C), and the presence of the equivalent amount of H2 is necessary for driving this reaction forward making it an energy-intensive process.
