It is expected that the technology to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into synthetic gases such as hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) will successfully be demonstrated and contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality.

The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (President Young-Guk Lee) announced on the 5th that the research team led by Dr. Tae-Seon Jang of the CO2 Energy Research Center has developed a core demonstration catalyst and process technology that can produce synthesis gas, a petrochemical platform compound, from carbon dioxide.

In addition, Boohung Industrial Co., Ltd., which received this technology, announced that it has completed construction of the world's largest CO2-utilizing dry reforming plant capable of producing 8,000 tons of synthesis gas per year within the Ulsan Industrial Complex and held a completion ceremony for the 'CO2-utilizing dry reforming plant' at Boohung Industrial Co., Ltd.'s Ulsan plant on the 5th.

This research achievement is a great achievement made possible through long-term joint research between the Korea Institute of Chemical Technology, the only government-funded research institute in the chemical field, and Buheung Industrial Co., Ltd., a domestic CCU specialist company, and is evaluated to be even more meaningful because it was developed using purely domestic technology, from materials to processes.

Through the operation of the newly completed plant, we plan to conduct final research for commercialization and begin full-scale production of CCU (Carbon Capture and Utilization) products from 2024.

Synthetic gas, which is composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is used to produce ammonia, alcohol, It is an essential core material for various chemical raw materials such as plastics.

On the other hand, all existing technologies for producing synthesis gas in the petrochemical industry have the problem of emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases. Therefore, a ‘greenhouse gas reduction synthesis gas production technology’ that can drastically reduce greenhouse gases compared to existing technologies is needed.

Accordingly, the research team developed the core source catalyst and process of dry reforming technology that manufactures CO2 into synthesis gas, and secured a synthesis gas manufacturing technology that shows the world's best greenhouse gas reduction effect.

The existing dry reforming technology has been difficult to commercialize due to catalyst deactivation caused by carbon particle generation during the reaction, which has remained a long-standing issue for the petrochemical industry for the past 100 years. However, the research team has developed a world-class demonstration catalyst and customized process with significantly suppressed carbon generation.

Through this, we can achieve the double benefit of reducing carbon dioxide by about 1.053 tons for every 1 ton of carbon monoxide produced, and secure a stable catalyst that can be applied to the synthesis gas manufacturing process for about 10,000 hours.

Buheung Industrial Co., Ltd. plans to maximize greenhouse gas reduction effects and secure economic feasibility compared to existing petrochemical-derived products by increasing catalyst efficiency and optimizing the process through operation of the constructed dry reforming plant and follow-up research. In addition, preparations are underway to apply the manufactured synthetic gas to various fields, such as manufacturing acetic acid, methanol, and dimethyl carbonate.

Director Young-Guk Lee of the Chemical Research Institute said, “This world’s largest CO2-utilizing dry reforming plant is significant in that both the core catalyst and process development were secured using domestic technology. We expect it to be a good example that demonstrates that CCU technology can substantially contribute to achieving carbon neutrality.”

This study was conducted with the support of the Basic Project of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology and the Energy Technology Innovation Project of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.