The DST-supported National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCoE-CCU) at IIT Bombay has been granted a patent for CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO) conversion technology.
- This new energy-efficient carbon dioxide capture technology converts carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide under electro catalytic conditions under ambient temperatures in the presence of water has been developed with potential for application in the steel sector.
Key points
- Carbon monoxide (CO) is a widely used chemical in the industry especially in the form of syn gas.
- In the steel industry, CO is an essential ingredient for converting iron ores to metallic iron in blast furnaces.
- Currently, CO is generated by partial oxidation of coke/coal, which leads to a significant production of CO2 as an end product of this process. If this emitted CO2 can be captured and converted into CO, it can lead to a circular economy in this process while reducing the carbon footprint and associated costs.
- The process for CO2 to CO conversion that is widely in use currently occurs at elevated temperatures (400-750 °C), and the presence of the equivalent amount of H2 is necessary for driving this reaction forward making it an energy-intensive process.
- The newly developed process by IIT Bombay’s NCoE-CCU requires only minimal energy as it can proceed under ambient temperatures (25-40 °C) in the presence of water.
About carbon monoxide (CO)
- CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can be harmful when inhaled in large amounts. CO is released when something is burned.
- The greatest sources of CO to outdoor air are cars, trucks and other vehicles or machinery that burn fossil fuels.
- A variety of items in your home such as unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, and gas stoves also release CO and can affect air quality indoors.
