Producing 'Korean Alpha Olefins' from Greenhouse Gases

Producing High-Value Chemical 'Alpha Olefin' Without Greenhouse Gases Using Greenhouse Gases

Developed iron-zinc oxide catalyst. Using this solid catalyst, the catalyst can simultaneously convert by-product gas and carbon dioxide. Iron oxide and iron carbide are evenly distributed on the surface of the zinc oxide support.

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] A process technology has been developed to produce alpha-olefins, a chemical substance that is entirely imported, by utilizing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and industrial by-product gases classified as potential greenhouse gases. If practical application is achieved based on pilot demonstration results next year, it is expected to be a technology that protects the environment and contributes to the localization of alpha-olefins.

Dr. Yongtae Kim's research team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology developed a new catalytic process technology to produce alpha-olefins using carbon dioxide, an industrial by-product gas that is discarded, and inexpensive catalysts, without ethylene or expensive catalysts. The paper introducing this technology was recently published in the international journal ACS Catalysis.

Eco-friendly Alpha-Olefin Production Method... Also Cost-Effective

This graph shows the conversion reactivity of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide with the addition of alkali metals. When sodium is added as an additive to the iron-zinc catalyst, both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are converted into alpha-olefins. However, when potassium, a traditionally used additive, is added, the reactivity decreases due to the formation of a carbon layer on the surface, resulting in carbon dioxide being converted only to carbon monoxide.

The core of the newly developed process technology is the catalyst manufacturing technology using iron ore as raw material. The process allows two reactions?carbon dioxide converting to carbon monoxide, and carbon monoxide converting to alpha-olefins?to occur within a single system. To realize this process, the research team developed an iron-zinc oxide catalyst. Using sodium as an additive, iron oxide and iron carbide are evenly distributed on the surface of the zinc oxide support. In the first reaction where carbon dioxide is converted to carbon monoxide, iron oxide acts as the catalyst. In the second reaction where carbon monoxide is converted to alpha-olefins, iron carbide (a compound of iron and carbon) serves as the catalyst.

The alpha-olefins produced through this catalyst are fine chemical raw materials that are entirely dependent on imports. Alpha-olefins are used in manufacturing detergents, lubricants, cosmetics, plastics, etc. In the case of lubricants, the addition of alpha-olefins enhances functions such as corrosion prevention, classifying them as premium lubricants. The global alpha-olefin market is about 4 million tons annually, with the domestic market estimated at around 100,000 tons.

The research team stated that the newly developed process can utilize discarded greenhouse gases as raw materials and does not emit greenhouse gases as a result of the reaction. In particular, this process can reduce the cost of raw materials and catalysts to about one-fourth compared to existing processes.

Production Verification Next Year

Liquid products obtained through simultaneous conversion of biogas and CO2.

Dr. Yongtae Kim, the principal investigator, said, "The developed process utilizes both carbon dioxide and industrial by-product gases, which are greenhouse gases, and will greatly help reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions," adding, "we plan to verify the production of 1 kg of alpha-olefins per day through mini pilot operation by next year."

Researcher Seongyu Yang, the first author of the paper, said, "Until now, most research on alpha-olefin production processes has focused on the second reaction converting carbon monoxide to alpha-olefins," and added, "this research will provide direction to companies that need to process carbon dioxide."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.