Transformation of the Basic Chemicals Industry: How Can We Move Away from Fossil Feedstocks?

🧪 The organic basic chemicals industry is still primarily based on the fossil feedstocks natural gas and naphtha. Which alternative carbon sources are suitable for Germany as a chemical production location, and which process engineering routes are most promising, has been examined by DECHEMA on behalf of IREES as part of the joint research project EE4InG2.

The study “Transformation der Chemischen Verfahrenstechnik – Effiziente Herstellungswege mit veränderter Rohstoffbasis” analyses three alternative carbon sources in detail:
🏭 CO₂ from unavoidable point sources (cement plants, for example)
🌱 Biogenic residues and waste materials
♻️ Plastic waste

Building on this, the study identifies so-called efficiency processes, characterised by technological maturity, optimised energy demand and low feedstock requirements. The focus is on power-to-X processes, biomass gasification and thermochemical plastics recycling.

💡 The study provides concrete recommendations on research needs in feedstock pre-treatment, catalyst development, reaction engineering and product processing. The results map out the research required for a defossilised and, in the long term, competitive chemical industry. Alongside technological aspects, the study offers specific research policy recommendations regarding the necessary infrastructure and framework conditions.

➡️ The full report is available for download here: https://dechema.de/rohstoffbasis-path-123211,124930.html
➡️ More on the EE4InG2 project: https://ee4ing2.de/

Our thanks go to the authors at DECHEMA for preparing the study and for the excellent collaboration within the project!

IREES – RESEARCH FOR FUTURE 🌍🍃