Direct CO2-to-renewable methanol: Outlook, performance and optimization approach

Abstract

Renewable methanol (MeOH) is targeted as a strategically important feedstock and fuel for the sustainable chemicals and industrial fuels sectors as well as a high-density storage and transport medium for the emerging hydrogen (H2) economy. This study elucidates how to approach the future of the renewable thermal direct‑carbon dioxide (CO2)-to-MeOH process supported by a technoeconomic analysis (TEA) to enable high MeOH yield and 3–14% more affordable productivity. We also carry out thermal performance evaluations of five recognizable catalyst materials that achieve up to 38–112% activity compared to the commercial-benchmark copper‑zinc oxide-alumina (CZA) catalyst at low temperature and 1/10th commercial pressure with the same screening reactor. We outline comparative thermal performance metrics and present an optimization strategy to identify the most promising candidates for further optimization.