Enabling continuous capture and catalytic conversion of flue gas CO2 to syngas in one process

•CO2 capture and catalytic hydrogenation can be performed over the same catalyst.•The catalyst is made of earth abundant elements (Fe, Cr, Cu, K, Al, Mg).•Very high (>99%) CO2 capture efficiency could be achieved.•CO2 is converted to carbon oxides (CO, CO2) containing syngas.•The catalyst functions in the presence O2 and/or H2O over the period of 2 days.

Albeit a variety of available strategies for CO2 conversion to useful chemicals and fuels, most technologies require relatively pure CO2, especially without oxygen and water. This requires additional steps of CO2 capture and purification before its efficient conversion. This necessity increases energy requirement, leading to poorer carbon footprints and higher capital expenditures lowering the viability of overall CO2 conversion processes. We have developed an effective technology which combines CO2 capture and conversion processes using isothermal unsteady-state operation and a catalyst consisting of earth-abundant chemical elements (FeCrCu/K/MgO–Al2O3). Diluted CO2 streams common in process flue gases, even containing oxygen and water, can be fed to the process and relatively pure product stream such as syngas, i.e. carbon oxides (CO and CO2) and hydrogen mixture, can be produced. A possible scheme of reactor integration for continuous CO2 abatement and conversion based on a two-reactors system is presented.

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