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We use a modular and scalable non-thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure to convert CO2 from point source emissions into added value chemicals such as methanol, olefins, syngas etc
About
D-CRBN is a 2 year old CCU spin-off from the University of Antwerp. We have a proprietary modular and scalable plasma technology capable of splitting the CO2 molecule into CO, all in a fully electrified, gaseous phase, without solvents nor catalysts. The CO is then turned into added value chemicals, such as e-fuels, organic acids, polymers, etc, and be used as a feedstocks for the chemical, petrochemical, maritime and metallurgical industries among others. Our aim at D-CRBN is not only to decarbonize industries by eliminating their point source emissions but also to replace fossil feedstocks with CO2 recycled added value chemicals. This technology can provide strategic and decentralised resource independence to territories and industries which currently depend in oil and natural gas derivatives for their processes. Our technology is currently at TRL 4 with a working prototype capable of converting 100 tons/year of CO2 to CO and we are on the process of building our first industrial pilot line which will bring our tech to TRL 6-7. This industrial pilot line has the capacity of converting 1000 tons CO2/year into added value chemicals and will be ready in Q3 2023. This pilot line is within the framework of a project which we are leading, and our partners are Arcelor Mittal, BASF, Engie and Vopak among others.
Key Benefits
D-CRBNs technology is modular, fully electrified and industrially robust. The modular nature of the technology makes it portable and highly scalable. The fact that is fully electrified enables gas to gas conversion, no solvents, catalysts not complex structural geometries and thanks to the intrinsic nature of the plasma the footprint of the technology is minimal, being able to convert 2000 tons CO2/year in 5 m2, enabling to be placed at point source locations. When benchmarking CCU technologies currently in the market or in development such as water gas shift, solid oxide electrolyser cell or low temperature membrane electrode assembly we quickly realise of D-CRBNs competitive advantage. None of the above are as scalable and robust as our solution, due to its modular and electrified nature. In terms of CAPEX and OPEX D-CRBN is 1/2 and 1/3 less in both parameters respectively compared to the second best in class technology, namely water gas shift. i.e to produce 1 ton of CO water gas shift requires 6000 kWh, Low temperature Membrane Electrode Assembly requires 6100 kWh and Solid oxide electrolyser cells requires >7000 kWh while D-CRBNs solution requires 4000 kWh/Ton of CO produced, making our solution the most energy efficient CCU technology in the tech spectrum.
Applications
D-CRBNs technology eliminates point source industrial emissions and can replace fossil feedstocks using recycled CO2 products from which the following can be synthesised: • Ethanol • IPA • Acetone • Methanol • E-jet fuel • E-Naphta • E-CH4 • Polyols • Lactic acid, PLA • Acetate • Caprylic acid • Caproic acid • Formic acid • Ethylene • Propylene