Green Chemistry Challenge: 2023 Specific Environmental Benefit—Climate Change
Air Company
AIRMADE™ Carbon Technology: Photosynthesis-inspired Conversion of CO2 to Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Alcohols
Air Company is being recognized for the development of a carbon dioxide removal technology that transforms the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into larger molecules, which can then be used to produce other products such as fuels and fragrances. The only byproduct produced is oxygen gas. The technology both removes carbon dioxide from the air by using it as a chemical reactant and reduces the need for fossil fuels by transforming it into fuels, including aviation fuels.
Summary of Technology:
Mimicking photosynthesis, Air Company’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology transforms a ubiquitous feedstock, CO2, into larger organic chemicals with O2 as the only byproduct. The technology both removes CO2 and reduces the need for fossil fuels by using this carbon to produce AIRMADE™ methanol, ethanol, paraffins, and other compounds for fuels. Air Company’s technology takes in captured CO2, H2O, and renewable electricity—generated from sources like solar photovoltaics and wind turbines—as inputs. It uses this renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then combined with CO2 using proprietary catalysts to selectively produce alcohols and paraffins. The process has net-negative carbon emissions, removing approximately 1.5 kg of CO2 from the atmosphere per kg of ethanol produced, according to a life cycle analysis. It also uses just 1.1% as much water as corn-based ethanol. Likewise, AIRMADE™ sustainable aviation fuel life cycle CO2 emissions are over 90% lower than traditional jet fuel. Its composition provides additional benefits related to exhaust, logistics, and ease of adoption.
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