Shell teams with National University of Singapore to develop fuels from CO2

In Singapore, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and international energy giant Shell will jointly develop novel processes to use carbon dioxide, a byproduct of industrial processes, to produce fuels and chemicals for the energy industry. Supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF), this S$4.6 million research program was formalized by all three parties at a ceremony held today.

This three-year research program aims to electrochemically produce ethanol and n-propanol from carbon dioxide – a gas that is commonly released into the atmosphere. Ethanol and n-propanol can be blended with gasoline to deliver cleaner burning fuels. These two fuels can further be dehydrated to produce ethylene and propylene respectively, which are commercially important molecules that are used in producing polymers that go into everyday products like medical equipment and houseware items. By effectively converting carbon dioxide into other useful products, this research can help reduce carbon emissions and its impact on the environment.