Braskem and Northwestern University Partner to Develop CO2 Conversion Technology

Braskem and Northwestern University (U.S.) have collaborated to develop a technology platform for converting the CO2 generated by industrial operations into products of interest with the help of co-electrolysis, a technology using electricity to convert CO2.

The project, led by Professor Ted Sargent and Dr. Ke Xie at Northwestern University, is in the development stage and aims to build a versatile and modular system with high energy efficiency.

The project will also help transform a higher volume of CO2, thereby reducing greenhouse gases.

The laboratory-scale development stage is expected to improve in the three years of the cooperation agreement and is capable of scaling up with usage in industrial applications post-validation.

The investment in the partnership will enable Braskem to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

“Through this partnership with Northwestern University, using the cutting-edge infrastructure of its laboratories and Prof. Sargent’s and Prof. Xie’s expertise, we will undoubtedly deploy an innovative technology – CO2 conversion through co-electrolysis,” said Gus Hutras, Global Process Technology Director, Braskem. “Therefore, we will efficiently reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and open up new conversion possibilities through this pioneering and disruptive initiative.”