Page 186 - CW E-Magazine (6-8-2024)

Special Report

74-ktpa of capacity for Europe are
envisaged from wood waste mainly,
outputs are expected to be for fuel use only.

Fischer-Tropsch naphtha from carbon
capture
The production of ‘syncrude’, or
synthetic crude oil for fuels and chemi-
cals from captured carbon also relies on
the Fischer-Tropsch process. CO may
2
be sourced and captured from industrial
emission sources, from biogenic waste
gas streams or extracted from the air
using direct air capture (DAC) systems
as the start point for this production.
Fig. 5: Capacity build-up for CO -based hydrocarbon via FT synthesis, 2022–2030, ktpa.
2
In a net-zero scenario, feedstocks nounced a plan in September 2021 call- jects and one in the US are expected
for chemicals overall will be covered to ing for production of at least 3-billion to be operational in 2024.
a large extent by bio-based feedstocks gallons (100-mt) of SAF per year by
and recycled materials (produced from 2030. The US Infl ation Reduction Act With rising production of synthetic
mechanical and advanced recycling of 2022 provides a US$60/tonne incen- aviation fuels beyond 2030, there will
technologies), but it is expected that tive for CO use. be a production of co-product naphtha,
2
captured carbon will be required as a which could be available to the chemi-
feedstock up to 25% levels. Conside- Technologies for the combination cal industry.
ration on the contribution of CCU tech- of carbon capture, production of syn-
nologies to alternative naphtha is thus gas, conversion to synthetic crude oil “Alcohol-to-Jet”
important. via Fischer-Tropsch technology and “Alcohol to jet” are chemical pro-
separation of products to required out- cess technologies which could contri-
As with HVO/HEFA the demand puts such as SAF, diesel, naphtha, waxes bute some further co-product naphtha
for fuels is expected to be the driver and other chemicals, are being investi- to chemical processing. Alcohols such
for availability of CO based feedstock gated and implemented in 25 or more as methanol, ethanol and isobutanol
2
for chemicals in the form of alternative projects worldwide. Projects involve may be “upgraded” to produce synthetic
naphtha. The EU adopted regulations in multiple technologies, where expertise kerosine (SAF). Typically, a 10% (by
October 2023, with specifi c targets for on the capture of carbon, conversion weight) by-product naphtha could be
the use of SAF and within this category, of CO and H to syngas as well as produced as part of the process.
2
2
sub-targets for Synthetic Aviation Fuels. Fischer-Tropsch technology may be
Synthetic Aviation Fuels are based on provided by separate companies or A future review on availability of
the defi nition of RFNBO (renewable organisations. alternative naphtha for the chemical
fuels of non-biological origin) and in- industry may indicate “alcohol-to-jet”
clude CO -derived fuels. The ReFuel Most projects for fuels via carbon processes could be included as a route
2
EU targets which form part of the regu- capture and the associated production of to alternative naphtha in Figure 1.
lations require 5% synthetic fuel within naphtha are not expected to be realised Technology developers and licensors
a quota of 20% SAF by 2035 increasing until after 2026 and are currently fore- are active in developing and optimising
to 15% synthetic fuel within a quota of seen for the period 2026-2030, when the processes and as the technologies
42% SAF use in aviation fuel overall resulting CO -based hydrocarbon capa- mature and volumes become available
2
by 2045, and fi nally 70% SAF use in city could increase to close to 800-ktpa to the market, this source of naphtha
2050, with a minimum share of 35% worldwide should all the currently active may warrant increased consideration!
for synthetic fuel and a maximum share projects go ahead.
of 35% for bio-based SAF. [This and other reports on renewable
Apart from demonstration facilities, carbon are available at www.renewable-
In the US, the White House an- two European commercial scale pro- carbon.eu/publications]

186 Chemical Weekly August 6, 2024

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