Development of World’s Leading Technology for Converting Carbon Dioxide to Petrochemical Feedstock

KRICT Develops 'Dry Reforming' Catalyst and Process to Convert Methane Mixed into Carbon Monoxide
Technology Transferred to Private Sector for Annual 5,000-ton Scale Demonstration Commercialization Research

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Domestic researchers have developed the world's best carbon dioxide (CO2) petrochemical raw material conversion technology and are accelerating commercialization by transferring it to private companies.

The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology announced on the 10th that the research team led by Dr. Jang Tae-seon and Dr. Heo Il-jeong at the Environmental Resources Research Center developed an innovative dry reforming catalyst and customized process for converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, a technology previously known to be difficult to develop. Dry reforming refers to a technology that produces synthesis gas by reacting carbon dioxide with methane. The institute is promoting early commercialization by transferring this research achievement to private companies and jointly conducting demonstration commercialization research at an annual scale of 5,000 tons.

Carbon monoxide is an essential core substance for various chemical raw materials such as oxygen-containing compounds and plastics. However, existing technologies producing carbon monoxide in the petrochemical industry have the problem of emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases. Therefore, globally, carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCU) technology that considers greenhouse gas reduction effects and added value is absolutely necessary.

If carbon monoxide can be produced using CCU technology, large-scale greenhouse gas emissions can be drastically reduced while maintaining subsequent processes, enabling the production of CCU products. For example, the polyurethane market, used in automotive interior and exterior materials, is expected to have a substitution effect of about 7 trillion KRW annually, and the ethyl vinyl acetate market, used in adhesives, sanitary films, and shoes, is expected to have a substitution effect of about 2.7 trillion KRW annually.

The research team developed a technology to produce carbon monoxide, a key raw material and platform compound in petrochemical processes, from CO2, a representative greenhouse gas, through a significantly improved dry reforming method. To overcome the difficulty of continuous operation caused by catalyst deactivation due to carbon particle formation during the reaction in existing dry reforming technologies, they identified the conditions and causes of carbon (C) particle formation from carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). Through this, they achieved a twofold effect of reducing about 1.053 tons of carbon dioxide to produce about 1 ton of carbon monoxide and secured a stable catalyst that can be applied for about 10,000 hours in the carbon monoxide production process.

The research team is currently developing technology to further improve greenhouse gas reduction effects and economic feasibility compared to existing petrochemical-derived products by enhancing catalyst efficiency and optimizing the process. Additionally, they are preparing to expand applications by producing acetic acid, methanol, and dimethyl carbonate using carbon monoxide manufactured at the pilot scale.

Lee Mi-hye, president of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, said, "It is significant that part of the petrochemical industry process can be replaced with CCU technology to produce existing products that already have a market," adding, "We expect this to be a good example for South Korea to secure competitiveness in carbon-neutral related industries."

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