| Project Detail |
Producing synthetic fuels out of plastic waste
Post-consumer plastic waste remains one of the main environmental problems at a European and global level. The EU-funded SURPLAS project will provide a holistic solution for the utilisation of plastic waste that generates low carbon H2 and low carbon liquid fuels offering clean energy by-products. More specifically, SURPLAS will process, characterise and gasify a series of plastic waste to produce syngas at high hydrogen yields with adjusted H2/CO ratios and low tar formation while improving the gasification performance. Consequently, SURPLAS will convert the gasification-derived syngas mixtures toward Fischer-Tropsch (FT) liquid synthetic fuels with the aid of advanced nanocatalysts. Moreover, the project includes energetic and feasibility studies for real-scale SURPLAS processes.
The management and disposal of plastic waste is an ever increasing problem with the EU alone generating more than 29.1 million tons of post-consumer plastic waste each year. The main aim of the proposed project is to deliver an integrated solution utilizing plastic waste to generate low carbon H2 and low carbon liquid fuels providing a decarbonisation route for the stationary power generation and transport sectors toward a clean energy and sustainable future. Thus, SURPLAS is in line with the European Unions Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy and serves the ultimate goal of the recently announced Green Deal toward an energy transition to a low or even zero carbon economy to effectively combat climate change. In specific, different types of plastic waste will be processed, characterized and gasified to produce syngas at high hydrogen yields with adjusted H2/CO ratios and low tar formation, employing optimum operating parameters and catalysts to improve the gasification performance. At the same time, SURPLAS is proceeding one step forward with the conversion of gasification derived syngas mixtures toward Fischer-Tropsch (FT) liquid synthetic fuels using advanced in terms of synthesis and composition nanocatalysts. Thus, regarding the FT synthesis process, SURPLAS is aiming to optimize process conditions and identify superior catalysts to enhance the activity and selectivity of FT process to diesel and gasoline fractions (low carbon fuels) for maritime and heavy duty vehicles applications. The final objective of the proposed project is to elaborate reliable energetic and feasibility studies for real-scale SURPLAS processes (kW and MW scales) and to investigate their potential market prospects and business cases. |
