Context:

Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has laid the foundation stone for India’s first CO2-to-methanol pilot plant at Thermax Limited in Pune, Maharashtra.

More on the news

• This initiative marks a significant advancement in carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies, serving as a platform for demonstrating indigenous CCU technologies.
• The plant will have a capacity of 1.4 tons per day (TPD).
• It is implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, and Thermax Limited.
• It supports India’s Panchamrit commitment to reduce carbon emissions and achieve sustainable development, as outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during COP 26.
• It aims to foster technological self-reliance in methanol production, aligning with national initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.
• It will focus on converting captured CO² to methanol, helping to reduce the CO2 footprint in the coal-based thermal sector, which contributes approximately 30% of emissions.

Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU)

• Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) and using it in different ways:
• CO₂ can be used without any chemical changes, such as in the fertilizer industry.
• CO₂ can be transformed into other products, like synthetic fuels and chemicals.
• Approximately 130 million tons of CO₂ are used each year to produce urea, a key ingredient in fertilizers.
• Around 80 million tons of CO₂ are used to help extract more oil from existing fields.

About CO₂ to methanol

It is known as CO₂ reduction, involves several key steps:

• CO₂ is captured from industrial processes or directly from the air, and then it is purified to remove any impurities.
• Initially, hydrogen is produced by reforming methane while capturing the carbon emissions. Over time, hydrogen will increasingly come from electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or hydroelectric power.
• The purified   CO₂ is reacted with hydrogen gas to produce carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O). This step is called the reverse water-gas shift reaction.
• Finally, the carbon monoxide is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce methanol.

What is Methanol (CH3OH)?

• It is a clear liquid used in everyday products like plastics, paints, cosmetics, and fuels.
• It is an energy resource for marine, automotive, and electricity sectors and is emerging as a renewable energy source.

Properties:

• Methanol is water-soluble, biodegradable, and consists of four parts hydrogen, one part oxygen, and one part carbon.
• It is a clean-burning fuel, making it an attractive alternative for vehicles, ships, cooking, and heating.

Production:

• Traditionally produced from natural gas, methanol's production is shifting toward sustainability.
• Increasingly, it is made from renewable feedstocks like agricultural waste, municipal solid waste (MSW), sewage, renewable electricity, and captured CO₂.