NextChem and LanzaTech partner to produce renewable ethanol

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Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

NextChem has signed an agreement with LanzaTech for the license of its carbon recycling process. In this way, the Italian company will expand its circular economy and chemical recycling technology portfolio (CircularDistrict) with the production of renewable ethanol.
Press release: “Nextchem and LanzaTech Sign an agreement to promote circular ethanol production”, 17/7/2020.
Figure 1. Nextchem and LanzaTech join forces to produce renewable ethanol

The CircularDistrict model of NextChem, subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont that operates in the field of green chemistry, already had circular hydrogen and circular methanol production technologies (currently in the engineering phase). Now, it will be also possible to obtain ethanol, an important chemical for sustainable fuels and disinfectant production. NextChem will exclusively license this technology in Italy and, on a project basis, in some foreign markets.

The process is based on the chemical conversion of hydrogen and carbon contained in plasmix (non-recyclable waste from plastics separate collection) and RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) to generate Circular Gas that can be used to produce various chemical products. With LanzaTech’s biological syngas fermentation technology, ethanol is produced by bacteria, transforming the Circular Gas at low temperature and low pressure, improving the overall sustainability profile of the process.

The technological integration of CircularDistrict model is among the most relevant innovations in the circular economy sector, as it allows the generation of products such as hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, from the currently non-recyclable waste, avoiding fossil sources and reducing climate-changing emissions.

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