Syngas, a Switch to Flexible New Feedstock for the Chemical Industry

The intended innovations concern the conversion of syngas into intermediaries, especially olefins and alcohols. The main aim is to find suitable catalysts for this conversion. The integration with process development is important, as the end product must be an industrial process.

The TA-Syngas is aimed at catalytic conversion of feedstock via syngas into relevant intermediates for the chemical industry. Consultation with representatives from the industry led to a consistent view on their products of interests: lower olefins (C2, C3, and, possibly, C4) and the corresponding lower alcohols. The alcohols can be used as such or simply be converted into olefins by available process technology.

There are two important objectives:

• Efficient conversion, therefore selectivity and activity; 
• Robustness, resilience to contaminants, such as nitrogen and sulphur.

The TA-Syngas is structured around four themes:

• Conversion of syngas to lower olefins or alcohols using heterogeneous catalysis;
• Conversion of syngas to chemical intermediates using novel routes; 
• Integrated conversion of biomass to chemical intermediates via syngas; CO2 capture and re-use.