Turning Biogas into Valuable Chemicals: A Greener Path for Plastic Production

Faglige nøgleord: Biogas, Power-to-X, green energy, electrochemistry, electrolysis

Oplæg tilgængeligt på: Engelsk og kinesisk

Biogas, produced from organic waste like manure and food scraps, is a renewable energy source rich in methane. While typically burned for heat or electricity, my PhD project reimagines this resource by converting its methane into ethylene—the essential building block for plastics—using an innovative high-temperature electrochemical reactor. This reactor leverages solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology, powered by renewable electricity, to drive the chemical transformation. By engineering specialized catalysts and precisely controlling oxygen levels at the atomic scale, the process becomes efficient, stable, and capable of co-producing hydrogen as a valuable byproduct.

This approach eliminates the need for pure oxygen, reduces reliance on fossil fuels, and transforms waste into high-value chemicals. If successful, it could revolutionize plastic production by closing the carbon loop: organic waste becomes ethylene for plastics, which can later be recycled or repurposed. Beyond curbing pollution, the technology supports a circular economy where waste is a resource, not a burden, and empowers industries to decarbonize critical supply chains. By merging cutting-edge electrochemistry with sustainability principles, my work aims to turn today’s trash into tomorrow’s materials—a cleaner, greener vision for the future.

Fag og faglige nøgleord

Dette oplæg passer for eksempel godt til:

 

Fysik

Kemi

Teknologi

 

Nøgleord:

  • Biogas
  • Power-to-X
  • Green energy
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrolysis

Sprog og form på besøget

Klassebesøg eller foredrag?

Dette oplæg passer til en klasse (op til ca. 28 elever), hvor den ph.d.-studerende har mulighed for at have dialog med eleverne.

 

Sprog?

Dette oplæg er tilgængeligt på engelsk og kinesisk.

 

Digitalt eller fysisk besøg?

Den ph.d.-studerende kommer gerne ud på jeres skole til et fysisk besøg.

Øvrig information

 

Er du interesseret i dette oplæg?

Kontakt

Taja Andersen Brenneche
Kommunikationsmedarbejder
AKM
45 25 10 57
https://bookphd.dtu.dk/find-foredrag/alle-foredrag-liste/turning-biogas-into-valuable-chemicals-a-greener-path-for-plastic-production
7 JUNI 2025