Bio-MeGaFuel is an European project focused on establishing a novel, efficient, and scalable process to convert low-value biogenic residues and organic waste into biomethanol at low cost. By developing chemical looping gasification coupled with membrane reactors, the project aims to achieve Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5) by 2028. The project also aims to intensify the process, reduce the need for downstream treatments, and create synergies with renewable energy sources, such as renewable hydrogen integration. This breakthrough will pave the way for greater adoption of biomethanol in the chemical industry, marine transportation and notably as a feedstock to produce sustainable fuel alternative (SAF) for hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation. By reducing production costs and scaling up biomethanol output, Bio-MeGaFuel aims to offer a renewable, economically viable solution to the fuel challenges faced by sectors critical to the global economy.
CO2 emissions are one of the main environmental problems in recent decades. The conversion of captured CO2 into chemicals and fuels using renewable energy and materials is a promising option. Among them, thermocatalytic hydrogenation process to produce methanol stands out. This work reports the use of carbon fibres derived from lignin, a co-product of the paper industry, as catalyst/support to improve the sustainability of the process. The catalysts were prepared by two different techniques, electrospinning of the lignin solution, carbonization and active phase precursors wet impregnation of the carbon fibres and the direct electrospinning of lignin solution containing the active phase precursors followed by subsequent carbonization. In both cases, the active phase (Cu/Zn) precursors were added to obtain a final Cu/Zn mass ratio of 3/2. The catalysts were evaluated in the hydrogenation reaction of CO2 at H2/CO2: 3/1, 220-340 degrees C and 30 bar. The results show that the catalysts obtained by wet impregnation are the most active in the reaction, obtaining the highest methanol yield at 260 degrees C.
CO2 emissions are one of the main environmental problems in recent decades. The conversion of captured CO2 into chemicals and fuels using renewable energy and materials is a promising option. Among them, thermocatalytic hydrogenation process to produce methanol stands out. This work reports the use of carbon fibres derived from lignin, a co-product of the paper industry, as catalyst/support to improve the sustainability of the process. The catalysts were prepared by two different techniques, electrospinning of the lignin solution, carbonization and active phase precursors wet impregnation of the carbon fibres and the direct electrospinning of lignin solution containing the active phase precursors followed by subsequent carbonization. In both cases, the active phase (Cu/Zn) precursors were added to obtain a final Cu/Zn mass ratio of 3/2. The catalysts were evaluated in the hydrogenation reaction of CO2 at H2/CO2: 3/1, 220-340 degrees C and 30 bar. The results show that the catalysts obtained by wet impregnation are the most active in the reaction, obtaining the highest methanol yield at 260 degrees C.
