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Green fuels production, via direct and low-energy methane oxidation

Project description

A sustainable approach to conventional methanol production

Methane emissions are a major environmental challenge contributing to global greenhouse gas levels. Addressing this is critical for tackling climate change and transitioning to sustainable energy solutions. Methane is also a valuable resource if converted into useful chemicals such as methanol – a green liquid fuel. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the METtoFUEL project plans to develop an innovative electrochemical process to locally convert methane into methanol. By addressing high methanol selectivity and fast reaction rates, METtoFUEL will focus on: understanding the reaction mechanism, designing advanced dual-site catalysts, optimising electrolytes and achieving industrial-scale performance with gas diffusion electrodes. The project approach should help reduce emissions and offer a sustainable alternative to traditional methanol production methods.

Objective

"This proposal, titled ""Green Fuel Production, via direct and low-energy Methane Oxidation"" (METtoFUEL), will tackle the urgent and large-scale environmental problem of methane emissions, by converting methane to methanol, electrochemically and locally; simultaneously reducing GHG emission and obtaining a green liquid fuel.
High selectivity for methanol and fast reaction rates will be achieved with 4 steps: 1) elucidation of the reaction mechanism, 2) development of dual-site catalysts, 3) electrolyte engineering and 4) achievement of industrially relevant currents with gas diffusion electrodes.

This project will combine the applicant's (Dr. Silvia Favero) expertise in engineering the electrode-electrolyte interface, study of reaction mechanisms and some operando characterization techniques (SEIRAS and XAS), with the supervisor's (Prof. Maria Escudero Escribano) competence in methane electrochemical oxidation, her knowledge in operando characterization of electrocatalysts (Raman, ECMS, SEIRAS, SECS), and her experience in gas diffusion electrodes.

Prof. Escudero-Escribano is an ICREA Professor at the ICN2, and has recently received an ERC-consolidator grant for the study of methane electrochemical activation and coversion into valuable chemicals, such as methanol. She has developed a laboratory with a unique combination of electrochemical expertise and operando characterization techniques; and is ideally positioned at ICN2, a Severo Ocha centre of excellence, with access to advanced material synthesis and characterization facilities, as well as extensive career support, ensuring the project's success.

METtoFUEL will target >80% methanol selectivity, with >5% single-pass conversion and >100 mAcm-2 current density, which will ensure competitiveness against traditional methanol production approaches. If sucessful, this project will be spinned out, exploiting Prof. Escudero-Escribano IP experience, and ICN2 ""Business and Innovation Department""."

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Topic(s)

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

FUNDACIO INSTITUT CATALA DE NANOCIENCIA I NANOTECNOLOGIA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 194 074,56
Address
CAMPUS DE LA UAB - EDIFICI ICN2
08193 BELLATERRA (BARCELONA)
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
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Research Organisations
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Total cost

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