ICIQ starts two research projects on climate change mitigation funded by the Catalan Government

Both collaborative projects focus on converting CO₂ into chemicals of economic interest

ICIQ-CERCA has recently started two collaborative research projects funded under the CLIMA 2023 call (Grants to finance research projects for mitigation and adaptation to climate change) by AGAUR.

The objective of the CLIMA 2023 call is to fund research projects or knowledge transfer in various scientific fields with the aim of analyzing the impact of climate change on different natural systems, social and economic sectors, and territories of Catalonia. Projects under the call must propose innovative measures, models and strategies to mitigate climate change effects and enhance adaptive capacity.

The two awarded projects at ICIQ focus on mitigating climate change by converting CO₂ (carbon dioxide) into economically valuable chemicals like ethanol or methane. They aim to have a positive impact in current challenges such as the decarbonization of industrial processes and the exploration of solutions that exclusively utilize non-critical raw materials. Both projects will run for 2 years with a total budget of €360.000 each.

EDISON – Electrochemical DevIce for Sustainable CO₂ Utilization

The EDISON objective is to develop a device capable of converting CO₂ into ethanol as well as producing H₂O₂ (water peroxide) with a selectivity of at least 70%. Utilizing non-critical raw materials and guided by comprehensive technoeconomic analyses, this initiative promises to advance e-Fuels research in Europe generating a knowledge seed for future initiatives.

This collaborative project is coordinated by the research group of Prof. Núria López at ICIQ leading a consortium constituted by the groups of Prof. JR Galán-Mascarós at ICIQ, Prof. F. P. Garcia de Arquer at ICFO, and Prof. J. Arbiol at ICN2. EDISON’s team combines expertise in material development, atomistic-level characterization and prototype construction to reach its challenging objectives.

CESC – Conversion of Energy in Sustainable Chemicals

CESC’s goal is to transform CO₂ into compounds of economic interest while addressing another critical challenge: the decarbonization of industrial processes, contributing to a safer and healthier environment.

To achieve the above-mentioned goals, the project proposes the construction of a continuous flow catalytic reactor. Among other actions, it will involve developing novel catalysts, optimizing solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency and designing a pilot continuous flow modular device. With this technology, CO₂ could be transformed into chemicals such as CO, methane, and other C₂ compounds, like ethylene.

ICIQ contributes to this collaborative project through the involvement of Prof. Emilio Palomares’ research group. CESC’s consortia is led by Prof. Lluís Marsal at Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) as project coordinator and also includes the participation of the technological center Eurecat with the Prof. Ricard Gómez research group.

Convocatòria AGAUR 2023 dels ajuts per finançar projectes de recerca per la mitigació i adaptació al canvi climàtic amb el suport del Departament de Recerca i Universitats, del Departament d’Acció Climàtica, Alimentació i Agenda Rural i del Fons Climàtic de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Referència EDISON: 2023 CLIMA 00105 | Referència CESC: 2023 CLIMA 00067