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""."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis electrocatalysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aliphatic compounds
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
08193 BELLATERRA (BARCELONA)
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.