Belgium’s Alco Bio Fuel to produce ethanol from CO2 capture

In Belgium, Biorefinery Alco Bio Fuel (ABF), industrial gas supplier Messer Benelux and IJsfabriek Strombeek will continue their efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in Belgium. Together they are investing 10 million euros in a second carbon dioxide recovery unit, located at Alco Bio Fuel in North Sea Port (Ghent). In the spring of 2022, this second line will be operational, bringing the annual capture of green CO2 to 160,000 tons. That is an increase of no less than 60% compared to current capacity. The CO2 will be released when ABF processes biomass into ethanol. This biomass is organic material that extracts CO2 from the air during the growth process. In addition to bioethanol and CO2, the biomass also produces proteins for animal feed and corn oil. After capture and treatment, the CO2can be reused in the food and beverage industry, greenhouse horticulture, water purification, refrigerated transport or as a chemical raw material. The solid form of CO2 is dry ice.