CO2 to CO Conversion via Amine Mediator and Formate Decomposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for converting CO2 into usable products, such as carbon monoxide (CO), face challenges in scalability and energy efficiency, particularly in industrial applications, with existing electrochemical processes struggling to achieve high selectivity, stability, and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the reaction of CO2 with water and an amine to form a hydrogen carbonate, which is then converted to formate, decomposed into an amide, and finally into CO, using a multi-step process that includes the use of a precipitation reagent to separate and purify CO, allowing for scalable and efficient production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrochemical reduction of CO2 is used to produce CO, then CO can be produced from CO2, but the process lacks scalability and industrial viability
Solution Approach 1:
The process is divided into multiple discrete steps: CO2 absorption by amine, formate formation, formate decomposition to CO, and CO purification. Each step can be optimized and scaled independently, with the amine cycle providing a reusable framework that enhances industrial viability.
Solution Approach 2:
An amine compound serves as an intermediary mediator that facilitates CO2 conversion to CO through formation of hydrogen carbonate and formate intermediates. This intermediary approach enables scalable processing by allowing separation and optimization of individual reaction steps.
2Productivity
If direct electrochemical conversion of CO2 to hydrocarbons is used, then valuable chemical materials can be produced, but catalysts are not yet industrially viable
Solution Approach 1:
The process extracts and isolates CO as a valuable intermediate product from the CO2 conversion sequence. By removing CO at the formate decomposition step, the process enables subsequent Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to produce hydrocarbons with higher reliability, as the CO source is purified and controlled rather than relying on direct electrochemical conversion.
3Productivity
If multi-step routes are used for CO production from CO2, then scalability improves, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The amine compound serves multiple functions throughout the process: absorbing CO2, forming hydrogen carbonate, generating formate, and enabling CO release. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate reagents and systems, thereby managing complexity while maintaining scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The amine compound is regenerated and recovered at the end of each cycle, allowing it to be reused. This recovery mechanism simplifies the overall process by eliminating the need to continuously supply and dispose of amine materials, reducing operational complexity while enabling scalable operation.
4Productivity
If CO2 is converted to CO through electrochemical processes, then CO can be produced, but energy efficiency is generally low
Solution Approach 1:
The process changes the chemical parameters of CO2 through sequential transformations (carbonate → formate → CO), allowing each step to occur under optimized conditions. This parameter transformation approach improves energy efficiency by avoiding the high energy barriers of direct electrochemical reduction while maintaining CO production capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the production of CO with improved scalability and energy efficiency, facilitating the use of CO as a carbon source in chemical products, replacing fossil raw materials and offering a feasible method for industrial use.
Implementation Method 1
reacting CO2 with water and an amine of the formula HNR1R2 to form a hydrogen carbonate of the formula HNR1R2H+
Implementation Method 2
reacting the hydrogen carbonate with hydrogen to form formate of the formula HNR1R2H+
Implementation Method 3
decomposing the formate to an amide of the formula HCONR1R2
Implementation Method 4
decomposing the amide to CO and the amine of the formula HNR1R2
Implementation Method 5
reacting the amine in the mixture with a precipitating reagent, in particular with CO2, to produce a mixture comprising CO, a precipitate of the reaction of the amine with the precipitating reagent and optionally unreacted amine
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for producing CO from CO2, wherein the reaction proceeds via a formate of the formula HNR1R2H+ HCO2- and/or an amide of the formula HCONR1R2, R1 and R2 being the same or different and being selected from hydrogen and substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups having 1 to 20 C atoms.