TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Green Chemistry Breakthrough: Transforming CO2 into Olefins with Innovative Electrocatalysis

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY

Green Chemistry Breakthrough: Transforming CO2 into Olefins with Innovative Electrocatalysis

Leveraging novel catalysts and an advanced electrocatalytic membrane reactor, this technology efficiently converts carbon dioxide into olefins, offering a sustainable solution for the chemical and polymer industries.

Overview: Addressing the urgent need for sustainable chemical production, this invention taps into the growing market for green technologies. Traditional methods for CO2 reduction face challenges in efficiency, selectivity, and utilization. This technology operates at intermediate temperatures (300-500°C), using a proton-conducting solid oxide electrochemical cell with perovskite-structured mixed metal oxide catalysts. It shows promise as a way to reduce dependency on petrochemical feedstocks for olefin production, and answers the call for decarbonization and sustainable methods in the chemical industry. This technology’s potential for modular implementation makes it particularly appealing for on-site CO2 valorization at industrial plants, offering a path to reduce fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions.

Description: The system integrates a proton-conducting solid oxide electrochemical cell (p-SOEC) with novel catalysts for converting CO2 to ethylene[RMB1] [LW2] . Operating at 300-500°C, it allows for flexibility in hydrogen sources (from water, light alkanes, or ammonia) and energy input (heat and/or electricity). The catalysts, featuring iron-containing mixed metal oxides, provide high activity and selectivity, making the process more efficient than conventional methods[RMB3] . The system's operation at intermediate temperatures aligns with optimal conditions for CO2 hydrogenation, enhancing thermodynamic favorability and reaction kinetics.

Benefits: [RMB4] [LW5]

• Higher CO2 conversion and energy efficiency compared to traditional methods.


• Modularity and flexibility in energy and hydrogen sourcing.


• Reduced activation energy and faster reaction kinetics.


• Compatibility with existing industrial CO2 sources for onsite valorization.


• Potential for decarbonizing large-volume chemical products.

Applications:

• Petrochemical and polymer industries.


• Sustainable aviation fuel production.


• Industrial plants with CO2 emissions (e.g., fossil fuel power plants, bio-refineries).


• Companies specializing in CO2 utilization technologies.

Development Status: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3: Analytical and experimental proof-of-concept demonstrated.

IP Status: Provisional Patent Application No. 63/598,817, “Methods for Producing Olefins, and Related Electrochemical Cells and Systems,” BEA Docket No. BA-1475.

Partner with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for Access to Pioneering Technology and Mutual Growth

Managed by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, INL offers unique opportunities for businesses to access and license advanced technology. Our agreements are tailored to provide flexibility and affordability, particularly supporting small businesses in their growth and innovation endeavors. By licensing our intellectual property, you not only gain access to groundbreaking technology but also contribute to economic development and public welfare. We invite you to explore our technology portfolio, designed to give your organization a competitive edge in the market. Learn more about our licensing opportunities and the support we provide at: https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment. For specific discussions on how your business can benefit, please contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.

INL’s Technology Deployment department focuses exclusively on licensing intellectual property and partnering with industry collaborators capable of commercializing our innovations. Our goal is to commercialize the technologies developed by INL researchers. We do not engage in purchasing, manufacturing, procurement decisions, or providing funding. Additionally, this is not a call for external services to assist in the development of this technology.