- The project started on July 1, 2013, and is expected to last three years.
- The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is subsidizing the project.
- The process aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% in hydrogen production.
- Syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, is produced from natural gas and CO2.
Project Overview
BASF, the Linde Group, and ThyssenKrupp are collaborating to develop an environmentally friendly and competitive method for utilizing carbon dioxide (CO2) on an industrial scale. The project aims to use innovative process technology to convert CO2 into a valuable raw material, contributing to climate protection.
Innovative Two-Stage Process
The companies, along with BASF’s subsidiary hte AG and scientific partners VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut and TU Dortmund University, are developing a two-stage process. The first stage involves using high-temperature technology to process natural gas, yielding hydrogen and carbon with minimal CO2 emissions. The second stage combines the hydrogen with CO2 from other industrial processes to produce syngas, a key raw material for the chemical industry and fuel production.
Project Funding and Timeline
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is subsidizing the project under its “Technologies for Sustainability and Climate Protection – Chemical Processes and Use of CO2” scheme. The project commenced on July 1, 2013, and is scheduled to last three years.
Advantages and Applications
The project offers several advantages: natural gas is a plentiful resource with a favorable hydrogen and carbon content, and its decomposition is achieved thermally without adding oxygen or water. This process produces hydrogen and solid carbon, which can potentially replace hard coal in the coke and steel industries. The innovative reactor design also recycles waste heat back into the process, enhancing efficiency.
Multidisciplinary Cooperation
BASF coordinates the joint project, with hte conducting experimental research on gas decomposition and catalyst development. Linde and ThyssenKrupp Uhde handle engineering responsibilities, while ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe and its subsidiary KBS perform carbon conditioning and testing for steel industry use. The interdisciplinary cooperation of the engineering, chemical, gas, and steel industries is seen as crucial to the project's success.
