Comparative Technoeconomic Analysis of Pathways for Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 with Methanol to Produce Methyl Formate

Spurgeon, Joshua M.; Theaker, Nolan; Phipps, Christine A.; Uttarwar, Sandesh S.; Grapperhaus, Craig A.

doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c04362

Comparative Technoeconomic Analysis of Pathways for Electrochemical Reduction of CO₂ with Methanol to Produce Methyl Formate

Journal Article · Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c04362· OSTI ID:1901579

^[1]; Theaker, Nolan ^[2]; ^[3]; Uttarwar, Sandesh S. ^[3]; Grapperhaus, Craig A. ^[3]

Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States); University of Louisville
Univ. of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (United States)
Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States)

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction has promise as a technology that could help society reach carbon neutrality while producing valuable fuels and chemicals. Herein, the electrochemical synthesis of methyl formate, a product not observed in aqueous CO₂ electrolysis, has been analyzed by a rigorous technoeconomic model to evaluate its commercial viability. Methyl formate synthesis has been demonstrated with high faradaic efficiency through the electroreduction of CO₂ in methanol. Four competing approaches were analyzed: (1) Electroreduction of captured CO₂ in a dual CH₃OH/H₂O electrolyzer, (2) Direct electroreduction of flue gas CO₂ in a dual CH₃OH/H₂O electrolyzer, (3) Electroreduction of captured CO₂ in a CH₃OH/CH₃OH electrolyzer, and (4) Electroreduction of captured CO₂ in a H₂O/H₂O electrolyzer with a downstream CH₃OH reactor. Sensitivity analyses, cost contour plots, and comparison plots were generated. The dual methanol/water electrolysis approach was the most cost-competitive, with a levelized cost of methyl formate below the present market price. Here, the all-methanol electrolysis route was more expensive due to increased methanol consumption and greater distillation costs. Methyl formate production through aqueous CO₂ electrolysis to formic acid with a secondary esterification reaction was by far the most expensive approach, primarily due to the energy-intensive nature of distilling formic acid from water.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0031916

OSTI ID:: 1901579

Journal Information:: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Name: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Journal Issue: 38 Vol. 10; ISSN 2168-0485

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CO2 reduction
alcohols
alkyls
electrocatalysts
electrodes
electrolysis
methanol
methyl formate
technoeconomic analysis

Comparative Technoeconomic Analysis of Pathways for Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 with Methanol to Produce Methyl Formate

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Comparative Technoeconomic Analysis of Pathways for Electrochemical Reduction of CO₂ with Methanol to Produce Methyl Formate