Carbon dioxide and water could be recycled into renewable future fuels under a system developed by experts at Northumbria University.
A £50,000 award from Northern Accelerator’s pre-incorporation funding will further a collaboration between Northumbria University and SUEZ recycling and recovery. The project aims to create a safe and sustainable pipeline of carbon-based fuels made from waste flue gases.
The team, led by Dr Shahid Rasul, a senior lecturer in Mechanical and Construction Engineering, has used an inexpensive copper-based catalyst to convert CO2 into gas and liquid fuels.
Carbon monoxide is used in processes such as metal fabrication, drug, alcohol and fragrance manufacture, and industrial and domestic heating. It is hoped this development will have a major impact on society and industry.
Dr Rasul explained: “Production of on-site and on-demand renewable fuels from recycling CO2 and water will be a significant development for the process industries and gas distributors.
“It could support partners, such as SUEZ, in delivering an affordable supply of CO from their waste flue gases. Our technology will produce the quantity and quality of CO required, according to demand.”
The process will produce future fuel more sustainably, generating energy from waste, including landfill. It will also prevent atmospheric emissions by capturing and re-using gases such as methane.
Andrew Hughes, Regional Director at Energy North, SUEZ said: “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with Dr Rasul and his team. Together we’ll explore the long-term feasibility of recycling the CO2 captured from our energy assets.”
Dr Carolyn Horrocks, IP Commercialisation Manager at Northumbria University also commented. “To meet the UK’s ambitious CO2 emission target, new developments which utilise waste CO2 as a resource are essential.
Read more on the story here. https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/news-events/news/suez-fuel-research/
