Catalysts and Process Development, CO2 and Energy Conversion

The Fraunhofer IGB’s Straubing branch “Bio, Electro, and Chemocatalysis BioCat” develops catalysts and processes for the conversion of electric energy and CO2 in liquid energy carriers. Thereby, Fraunhofer IGB BioCat uses and combines the whole spectrum of catalysis (heterogeneous, homogeneous, bio-, and electrocatalysis).

A prominent, first-of-its-class example is a process which combines the CO2-based methanol synthesis with the methanol fermentation to isoprene, lactic acid, poly-hydroxy butyric acid and longer chain hydrocarbons. This process enables the cost-efficient further conversion of methanol to products with much higher market price compared to methanol. Therefore, this process has the potential to turn small-scale CO2 valorization into a profitable business.

BioCat is working on further projects, including decentralized decoupling of power generation and energy supply as well as new CO2-to-chemicals technologies.