Syngas – chemical industry’s Lego
Many science and engineering professionals, even some from the chemical industry, may not have heard about syngas, but that may be just about to change.
Because syngas is the building block using which a host of fuels and chemicals can be produced.
It is perhaps the composition of the gas that gives it so much promise – it is a mixture of CO and H2. This structure not only lends itself into being converted into a range of higher-C hydrocarbon fuels, but also into a range of polymers.
Its potential as a feedstock for liquid fuels and chemicals is a key reason for its recent popularity, but its uses do not stop there.
Both CO and H2 are flammable, so syngas can used a fuel in an internal combustion engine, similar to the way one uses natural gas.
Hot syngas can also power a turbine.
Wow. Is there something syngas cannot do in the worlds of chemistry and thermal?
This powerful building block can be produced from CO2 as well, when CO2 is co-electrolysed with water. If the power used for this electrolysis comes from renewable sources, we have a scenario where you have low carbon Lego of chemicals available aplenty.
Image source: Waste to Energy Systems – https://lnkd.in/gZsKf5MV
