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Carbon dioxide as a raw material
Researchers from Evonik, the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis and Ruhr University Bochum have developed a novel catalyst system that enables the use of carbon dioxide as a sustainable raw material for the chemical industry. The process allows for more environmentally friendly production of key basic and specialty chemicals.
A joint research team from Evonik Oxeno, the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and Ruhr University Bochum has developed a process that utilises the climate gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a raw material for the chemical industry. The newly designed bimetallic catalyst system replaces the toxic carbon monoxide (CO) typically used in carbonylation reactions with CO₂ and green hydrogen.
Carbonylation is a key process in the chemical industry, converting olefins – unsaturated hydrocarbons – into esters and acids, which serve as building blocks for plastics, acrylic glass and fragrances. The new catalyst makes this process significantly more resource-efficient.
Sustainable alternative for industrial synthesis
The catalyst combines the transition metals iridium and palladium with an established phosphine ligand, achieving high selectivity towards linear products – a major advantage for industrial applications.
“The direct use of CO₂ as a feedstock is a milestone for sustainable chemistry on an industrial scale,” said Prof. Dr Robert Franke, project leader at Evonik Oxeno. Dr Ralf Jackstell from LIKAT added: “This system shows how CO₂ can be viewed not as waste but as a valuable raw material.”
The new approach offers a sustainable pathway to produce both bulk and specialty chemicals – such as methyl methacrylate and valeric acid methyl ester – directly from CO₂ and green hydrogen, contributing to the defossilisation of the chemical industry.
Source: Evonik / Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) / Ruhr University Bochum, 202
