BIONIC: Biogas to Novel Integrated Catalysis for Biogas

BIONIC is an ambitious project that aims to turn everyday waste gases (biogas) into a valuable green fuel /chemical (methanol). Biogas is mainly made up of methane and carbon dioxide—two powerful greenhouse gases. Instead of letting these gases escape into the atmosphere or using them for low-value heat, BIONIC will develop a breakthrough process to transform them directly into green methanol, a liquid fuel and chemical building block used in everything from plastics to clean energy applications. The project focuses on solving the problem of the economic burden in converting biogas to methanol: extra addition of hydrogen. Previous research has shown that novel catalytic composition of C2CAT can be used to achieve biogas conversion to methanol as an alternative process to dry methane formation (DMR). This process is expected to perform in lower temperature and pressure.

What makes BIONIC unique, is its goal to achieve this conversion in a single step and with low energy demand, without the need for externally supplied hydrogen. To reach this target, the project brings together applied university researchers, catalyst experts, and industrial partners. Together they will test novel heterogenous catalytic materials for their capability of activating methane and carbon dioxide under mild conditions. Catalysts provided by C2CAT will be evaluated in reactors to determine the methanol production yields forming the base of industrial application.

Beyond laboratory research, BIONIC will also carry out techno-economic studies and life-cycle assessments to ensure that the process is both commercially viable and environmentally beneficial. This research will help C2CAT to make decisions about commercialization of their catalytical product. While STERCORE can get an inside of potential applicable technology for methanol production which could be a competition for their business.