Chinese scientists turn food waste into eco-friendly methanol fuel

Given the shipping industry's goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050, the need to find environmentally friendly and sustainable fuels is becoming increasingly urgent. Chemical engineering is actively seeking alternatives to petroleum-based liquid fuels. Researchers believe that a promising approach is to use organic waste and gasification products to produce automotive fuel components and other important compounds. The BRICS countries are also actively demonstrating their progress in finding green alternative energy sources and expanding the use of biofuels.

According to the official website of Tomsk Polytechnic University in Russia, scientists at the university have developed an innovative catalyst for processing synthesis gas in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. Experiments show that this catalyst, based on cobalt nanoparticles, obtained by electrochemical explosion of a conductor, demonstrates high synthetic activity even with a low hydrogen content in the feed gas. Thus, this catalyst is promising for use in the production of environmentally friendly fuel from synthesis gas obtained by pyrolysis of biomass or other non-traditional raw materials.

Brazil is increasing the efficiency of converting waste into heat, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Brazil 247, a TV BRICS partner, reports one such technology is co-processing. This technology replaces traditional fossil fuels and non-renewable raw materials, such as coal and petroleum coke, with industrial and household waste, biomass and used tyres, using them both for power generation and as production resources.

In India, waste is converted into environmentally friendly fuel – purified compressed methane – for use in vehicles and industry, notes IANS, a TV BRICS partner. Organic waste undergoes anaerobic decomposition to produce biogas, which is then purified to remove carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and water vapour.