Novel process for eco-efficient production of formic acid by CO2 hydrogenation

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Abstract

Valorization of carbon dioxide towards value added chemicals can drastically mitigate the increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere. In this context, formic acid is a versatile bulk chemical with promising market potential. The novel process design proposed in this work involves a sustainable thermochemical synthesis of formic acid from CO2, which is rigorously simulated using Aspen Plus V12 as a CAPE tool. The process relies on the reverse water-gas shift reaction (RWGS) to synthesize CO from green H2 and CO2. The purified CO is used for the synthesis of methyl formate, which is then hydrolyzed to produce formic acid. To address downstream processing energy intensity, a distillation column with a dividing wall (DWC) is employed. The designed process achieves high molar yields of 95% for CO2 and 96% for H2 with a specific energy intensity of 21.8 MJ/kg of formic acid. The new process achieves a substantial reduction of 51% in the CO2 emissions, 64% in electricity consumption and 20% in steam usage as compared to conventional fossil fuel-based FA production plants (reference case).
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 34th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering
Subtitle of host publication15th International Symposium on Process Systems Engineering (ESCAPE34/PSE24)
EditorsFlavio Manenti, Gintaras V. Reklaitis
Place of PublicationAmsterdam/Kidlington/Cambridge, MA
PublisherElsevier
Pages2659-2664
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)978-0-443-33897-7, 978-0-443-28824-1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Event34th European Symposium on Computer-Aided Process Engineering / 15th International Symposium on Process Systems Engineering - Palazzo dei Congressi - Villa Vittoria, Florence, Italy
Duration: 2 Jun 20246 Jun 2024
https://www.aidic.it/escape34-pse24

Publication series

NameComputer Aided Chemical Engineering
PublisherElsevier
Volume53
ISSN (Print)1570-7946

Conference

Conference34th European Symposium on Computer-Aided Process Engineering / 15th International Symposium on Process Systems Engineering
Abbreviated titleESCAPE34 - PSE24
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityFlorence
Period2/06/246/06/24
Internet address

Bibliographical note

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care
Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Keywords

  • carbon dioxide
  • formic acid
  • process design
  • process intensification

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