About the project
The PYROCO2 project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of industrial carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), where carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are captured at point of emission and then used to make products. The project is using innovative technology to make climate-positive acetone from industrially captured CO2. The acetone produced will be used to make a range of useful products, such as chemicals and fuels, with the pilot plants aiming to demonstrate the real commercial-scale potential of the PYROCO2 technology.
Description of success
Acetone is a carbon-based compound that acts as a solvent and is widely used in industry in the production of various other chemicals and products. The PYROCO2 project is using CO2 that has been captured to reduce the impact of carbon emissions from industry to produce acetone for commercial and industrial use.
A project milestone has been reached with four pilot installations being successfully established at the premises of project partners NORCE (Norway), RANIDO (Czechia), and SINTEF (Norway).
NORCE CO2-to-acetone (Norway)
The PYROCO2 project has constructed a pilot plant capable of running the full PYROCO2 process, converting CO2 to acetone and purifying it. PYROCO2 and its partners have designed and built the system, which includes elements such as a gas fermenter, a gas recirculation system, and a distillation system. This pilot is fully functional and has shown the value of optimisation and testing ahead of the transition to full demonstration scale, which is currently under construction at project partner SINTEF’s piloting area near Trondheim, Norway.
Figure 1: Pilot-scale bioprocess installation at NORCE in Risavika, near Stavanger, Norway (Mini-Demonstrator)
Pilot scale bioprocess installation “Mini-Demonstrator”
PYROCO2 has successfully built a pilot‑scale system to produce isopropyl alcohol from acetone. The unit converts the CO2‑derived acetone into isopropyl alcohol at a capacity of 20 kg per day. It represents a significant technological step forward as the system is capable of continuous, non-stop operation and demonstrates that this process can be scaled from laboratory experiments to a fully functioning pilot plant. This accelerates progress toward proving the entire CO2‑to‑chemicals value chain.
Figure 2: Pilot-scale hydrogenation catalysis unit at RANIDO in Czech Republic
Pilot-scale hydrogenation catalysis unit
The project has designed and built a pilot-scale isopropyl alcohol-to-propylene unit with capacity of 25 kg per day of propylene and can operate continuously. It demonstrates proof-of-concept of the conversion process that produces liquid propylene. Liquid propylene can be bottled in cylinders or larger containers and transported to make plastics. Before PYROCO2, demonstration of the isopropyl alcohol-to- propylene process was limited, showing a first of its kind breakthrough for production at this scale.
Figure 3: Pilot-scale dehydration catalysis unit 1 – Feed module (non-ATEX)
Figure 4: Pilot-scale dehydration catalysis unit 2 – Reactor module (ATEX)
SINTEF acetone-to-hydrocarbons (Norway)
Acetone can be converted to hydrocarbons (compounds made exclusively of carbon and hydrogen atoms), which are primary ingredients for producing synthetic liquid fuels. PYROCO2 has built a small, lab-scale reactor that reacts acetone with hydrogen to produce a range of hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons can be used as components in synthetic liquid fuels with possible future use as Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs).
Figure 5: Lab-scale pilot unit for fuel ingredients production at SINTEF in Oslo, NorwayLab-scale pilot unit for fuel ingredients production
Highlights
Four new pilot units have been designed, engineered, built and commissioned in the project, as crucial milestones towards full-scale demonstration of the PYROCO2 platform.
Pilot-scale conversion of CO2 to acetone.
Pilot-scale production of isopropyl alcohol from acetone.
Pilot-scale production of propylene from isopropyl alcohol for use in the production of recyclable plastics.
Lab-scale production of hydrocarbons from acetone as components for synthetic fuels.
Outputs
Many outputs of PYROCO2 are currently confidential, and this success story offers a glimpse into the progress being made. Their final application in the conversion of CO2-based acetone at pilot-scale will be documented as the project reaches its end.
Impact
The pilot installations demonstrate crucial milestones and proof-of-concept steps towards the overall success of the PYROCO2 project. The CO2 to acetone pilot has provided important experience and data for the design of the full-scale demonstrator currently being constructed in Norway. Other pilots play a key role in demonstrating the value chain and commercial potential of CO2-based acetone.
Lessons
Piloting is a key part of demonstrating innovative technologies to show their potential at commercial scale and for building a strong and sustainable circular economy.
The PYROCO2 pilots play a central role in the project’s overall aim to demonstrate sustainable value creation from CO2-based acetone, which will be a key building block in utilising industrial carbon dioxide emissions.
Other information
Figure 6: Overview of the full PYROCO2 process
