Work

Continuous electrolytic methanol synthesis from air-captured CO2 at ordinary temperature and pressure

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: A system for synthesizing methanol (MeOH) from carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air as a feedstock using electrical energy was developed to open a new avenue for atmospheric carbon capture and utilization. This system integrates three processes: direct air capture, direct carbonate reduction, and MeOH synthesis. A mixture of potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate aqueous solutions captures CO2 from the air as carbonate ions. Carbonate ions in the solution are directly reduced electrolytically to carbon monoxide (CO) using a nanoporous gold electrocatalyst. The produced CO is subsequently reduced electrolytically to MeOH using a cobalt phthalocyanine/carbon nanotube electrocatalyst. The system operated stably for 1.5 h, showing continuous CO2 capture and MeOH synthesis. A notable feature of this system is that all three processes operate under ordinary temperature and pressure conditions throughout all their steps. Hence, the system without high temperature or high pressure is compatible with time-varying renewable energies including solar energy, which are essential for reducing net CO2 emissions.

Source: Carbon Capture Science & Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100552