A Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of Electrochemical CO2 Reduction to Selective Formic Acid and Ethylene. Issue 19 (28th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ai, Ling; Ng, Sue‐Faye; Ong, Wee‐Jun
• Is Part Of: ChemSusChem. Volume 15:Issue 19(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-07-28
• Subjects: CO2 reduction -- electrochemistry -- ethylene -- formic acid -- life cycle assessment; Green chemistry -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202200857
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-5631

Abstract

Abstract: Converting CO2 into valuable C1 –C2 chemicals through electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) has potential to remedy the ever‐increasing climate problems owing to the intensification of industrial activity. In this work, cradle‐to‐gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to quantify the environmental impacts of formic acid (FA) and ethylene production through ECR benchmarked with the conventional processes. At the midpoint level, global warming potential (GWP) effects of FA and ethylene production through ECR recorded 5.6 and 1.6‐times that of the conventional process, respectively. Although ECR currently has limited environmental benefits, the incorporation of hydropower has vast potential after evaluating four sustainable electricity sources, namely hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass. Notably, ECR to FA recorded a 24 % reduction in petrochemical usage. For ethylene production, human health damage, ecosystem damage, and petrochemical use were reduced by 67, 94, and 110 %, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated that a sustainable energy supply chain for ECR will accelerate the development of a circular economy. Abstract : Life cycle assessment : The life cycle environmental impacts of producing formic acid and ethylene by the conventional and electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) processes are assessed and compared. In the sensitivity analysis section, future scenarios of sustainable energy supply are presented. Lastly, this work casts insights into the future development of renewable fuels via ECR.