SK innovation has successfully converted carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide using an electrochemical catalytic reaction. The carbon monoxide produced can be utilized as a basic material for various chemical products and is expected to contribute to the production of carbon-reducing chemicals.
SK innovation's R&D organization, the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, has succeeded in producing 1 kg of carbon monoxide per day by utilizing diatomic catalysts technology, which selectively converts carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide.
The demonstration results were published in the Nov. 29 issue of the Chemical Engineering Journal.
Techwin, a Korean company specializing in electrochemical systems, participated in the research, and the mass production of carbon monoxide using diatomic catalysts is believed to be the first implementation by SK innovation's Institute of Environmental Science and Technology.
The diatomic catalysts technology was developed by researchers at SK innovation Environmental Science & Technology and published last year in the environmental journal Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.
Unlike conventional catalysts that have hundreds of atoms clustered together, monatomic catalysts, which are made by separating atoms one by one, are considered to be more active. The researchers found that the catalysts performed even better when made in a diatomic form.
In this year's study, the researchers prepared a catalyst with diatomic forms of nickel and iron to enhance catalytic performance and applied it to an electrolyzer (a device that breaks down compounds by electrolysis) with multiple electrode cells stacked together. The electrochemical catalytic reaction in the electrolyzer converted carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide.
SK innovation's Institute of Environmental Science and Technology expects the research to reduce carbon dioxide, a major factor in accelerating the climate crisis, while securing carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is used in the production of chemicals such as acetic acid and plastics, and has recently gained attention as a raw material for the production of alternative fuels such as methanol and synthetic crude oil. SK innovation's Institute of Environmental Science and Technology will continue to improve catalyst performance and secure mass production capabilities to commercialize next-generation carbon reduction technologies, while continuing internal and external collaborations.
