Direct Electron Beam Synthesis (DEBS) Process—Enables Utilization of CO₂ to Generate Valuable Products

High-energy systems for transforming carbon dioxide (CO₂) to valuable products have been investigated by a GTI Energy-led a team with IBA Industrial Inc., the State University of New York (SUNY), and the U.S. DOE National Energy Technology Office (NETL) to develop a direct electron beam (E-beam) synthesis (DEBS) process to produce chemicals using CO₂ captured from a coal-fired or natural gas-fired power plants and methane (natural gas).

The DEBS low-cost, energy-efficient process uses a high-energy E-beam to break and reassemble chemical bonds, allowing production of chemicals, such as acetic acid, methanol, and carbon monoxide, at near-ambient pressure and temperatures which offers lower capital and operating costs.

This project expanded on the concept of DEBS with laboratory-scale reactor design and construction, development of a kinetic model, and an engineering design for application to coal-fired power plants.