Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT
Work in phase 1
In subproject L4 “Higher Alcohols”, Fraunhofer UMSICHT supported the consortium in testing heterogeneous catalysts. In a parallel reactor, up to seven different catalysts were tested and evaluated under exactly the same reaction conditions. In this way, it was possible to quickly screen the prepared catalysts, and promising samples could be selected for more in-depth investigations. In two further laboratory testing facilities, it was possible to also add alcohols – specifically methanol – to the feed gas flow in addition to the syngas components CO, CO2, and H2. Besides intensive measurements of the gas composition and reaction conditions, these facilities also made it possible to explicitly investigate methanol homologation and evaluate the possibility of MeOH recirculation. Conclusions can also be made concerning the macrokinetics of the reaction.
Aims in phase 2
In the second project term for L-IV “Higher Alcohols”, an overall catalytic process should be developed to directly convert treated byproduct gas into short-chain alcohols, olefins, and synthetic fuels and progress to the demonstration stage. Prospects and options for market-oriented reprocessing are being developed for the resulting product mixture.