Link to issue:
https://www.nature.com/natchemeng/volumes/1/issues/11
About the article:
Our latest manuscript, “Process and techno-economic analyses of ethylene production by electrochemical reduction of aqueous alkaline carbonates,” has been published online in Nature Chemical Engineering. The study is also featured on the cover of the November 2024 issue, and a research briefing summarizes key findings.
In this collaborative effort between Georgia Tech and the Dow Chemical Company, we explored innovative process designs by integrating the electrolyzer with a direct air capture unit, advanced membrane-based separation technologies, and stream recycling. This approach aims to create a more renewable and sustainable pathway for producing ethylene at large scales (~2 million tons/year).
Key highlights from our study include:
– A process with near-neutral Scope-1 and Scope-2 CO2 emissions in the optimistic scenario, albeit with a significant energy penalty.
– A roadmap to achieving <1 USD/kg ethylene.
– Sensitivity analysis on key process parameters that can guide experimentalists.
– Comparison of economics between contemporary electrolyzer architectures.
– Detailed sizing and costing for large-scale electrolyzer.
The Georgia Tech authors include Anush Venkataraman, Hakhyeon Song, Victor Brandão, Chen Ma, Magdalena Salazar Casajus, and Carlos Fernandez Otero. The PIs are Sankar Nair, Marta Hatzell, and Carsten Sievers.