16 April 2024
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Our climate challenge requires a different chemical industry. Plasma technology can make chemical processes electric with green electricity, and produce raw materials without releasing CO₂. Brightsite is using a grant to investigate whether this technology can be used on a larger scale.
From large to small packaging materials
Brightsite is a collaboration between Maastricht University, TNO, Sitech Services, Brightlands Chemelot Campus and companies in the chemical industry. The project investigates whether we can use plasma technology on a large scale. For example, to get rid of ammonia production. That production emits a lot of CO2.
Hans Linden of TNO is responsible for the project as program manager. "In our Brightsite Plasma Laboratory we combine innovative technologies and groundbreaking research. With this we believe we can make important breakthroughs in the short term and help enable the use of plasma chemistry in industry. New processes based on methane and nitrogen are an important part of our research."
Chemical reaction without CO2 emissions
"In our laboratory at Brightlands Chemelot Campus, we have now built several small plasma reactors," Linden continues. "Normally, chemical processes involve burning gas that releases CO₂. But a plasma process is like lightning. There is no combustion process, but we create an electric field that gives gas particles an electric charge (ionization) and creates a plasma. The high temperature in the plasma enables chemical reactions without releasing CO₂."
Scaling up processes with grant funding
"The difficulty is not in the process itself. This has existed since 1936 when a plant was developed in Germany to convert methane to acetylene and hydrogen. The problem is to develop this process on a large scale, and roll it out in a way that is economically advantageous," Linden continued.
"With innovation funding from the Mission Driven Research, Development and Innovation (MOOI) scheme, we are developing the basis and optimizing the system. Then we are working with our chemical partners toward a pilot, a small plant. The MOOI grant makes it possible to realize all of this in one project."