Emerging technologies for low- carbon intensity syngas: Part 1 Part 1 focuses on four new technologies for low-CI syngas pathways, which use non-fossil fuels, water, waste CO 2 , and green hydrogen as feedstocks
S yngas, which consists of hydrogen (H 2 ) and carbon monoxide (CO), is a crucial building block for industrial-scale production of the world’s most important chemicals, such as ammonia and methanol, as well as synthetic fuels, including gasoline, diesel, naphtha, kerosene, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Technologies for the production of syngas from hydrocarbons (or H 2 and carbon dioxide [CO 2] ) can be broadly categorised into two groups: Conventional pathways : Steam methane reforming (SMR), adiabatic pre-reforming, partial oxidation (POx); autothermal reforming (ATR), gasification, gas-heated reforming/convection reforming/tandem reforming, and recuperative/ oxidative reforming. Emerging low-carbon intensity (CI) pathways : Reverse water gas shift (rWGS), co- electrolysis of CO 2 and CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR), dry reforming of methane (DRM), and plasma pyrolysis of methane integrated with reverse Boudouard and heterogeneous water gas (hetWG) steps. Technologies for syngas production via conventional pathways, typically based on fossil fuels as feedstock, are largely mature, details of which are readily available in the public domain. Technical information on these technologies can be easily sourced from published articles or directly from well-known licensors, including Topsoe, KBR, thyssenkrupp Uhde, Linde, Air Liquide, Johnson Matthey, Air Products, Technip Energies, Casale, Maire Group, and Shell, among others. Hence, this article does not focus on the conventional pathways for syngas production. As the world transitions to net zero, alternative pathways utilising non-fossil fuel-based Ajay Misra Sr. Consultant (Fertilizers & Petrochemicals)
feedstocks for syngas production are becoming critical to meet global energy and chemical demands. For operators, these alternative feedstocks provide a pathway to secure their future through sustainability strategies. Capturing, compressing, and storing CO 2 underground is not a sustainable solution. However, converting CO 2 into the right usable products represents a sustainable, scalable investment opportunity. It is believed that, to decarbonise, carbon utilisation that supports a circular carbon economy represents the best use of CO 2 and positions us more competitively in the market. Value-added products made from CO 2 that displace fossil-derived products represent a win-win for all and for the global environment and ecology. Part 1 of this article focuses on four emerging technologies for low-CI syngas pathways, which are currently at various stages of development and deployment at scale and utilise non-fossil fuels, water, waste CO 2 , and green H 2 as feedstock. Part 2 will cover six relatively new technologies for low-CI syngas production that are in the initial stages of development. However, only a qualitative perspective on these 10 technology options is presented in this article, highlighting brief outlines, salient features, challenges, and level of maturity of these pathways. Complete details and techno- economic comparisons, as well as life cycle analysis of the individual processes, are well beyond the scope of this article.1 , 2 These syngas pathways can be seamlessly integrated with matching downstream units for methanol synthesis, ammonia synthesis, or Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis for the sustainable
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