Plasma key technology for electrification of our industry

Chemistry professor Annemie Bogaerts (UAntwerpen) founded research group PLASMANT, which does research on the role of plasma reactors for gas conversion, relevant to process innovation, e.g. electrification in the chemical industry, but also on plasma applications in medical treatments. She heads PLASMANT and is also a passionate people manager for her team of fifty.

D-CBRN, a pioneering Belgian CO2 recycling company, announced a  collaboration with ArcelorMittal and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). This trial involves testing D-CRBN’s technology to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) captured at ArcelorMittal’s steel plant in Ghent, aiming to expand the scope of its ongoing carbon capture pilot project with MHI.

A report from MIT has highlighted electrocatalysis and plasma technologies as pivotal pathways to electrify and decarbonize the chemical industry. The findings, detailed in the article titled “To decarbonize the chemical industry, electrify it” published on January 31, 2023, underscore the importance of transitioning to electrification powered by low-carbon energy sources to mitigate the sector’s significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

D-CRBN and ArcelorMittal Belgium both partner in the Catalisti project BluePlasma (ICON). This ICON project targets CCU: the conversion of CO2 into its building block CO. The main challenge in the BluePlasma project is to increase the conversion rate and energy-efficiency of the plasma process up to a level where the process becomes economically viable and profitable.

The ICON project FUNY will investigate whether the existing process to add functionalities to powder coating particles can be made more sustainable. The project proposes to integrate two core technologies for the production of such particles: atmospheric plasma technology and coating reactor technology. This combined technology will open up opportunities for the functionalisation of powder coating particles in a wide variety of applications, and support companies in making their processes more sustainable.

The PlasmaSol project developed more innovative and sustainable adhesion and functionalization technologies for various materials through atmospheric plasma.

Marleen Ramakers, a chemist at the PLASMANT research group of the University of Antwerp,developed a plasma-based method to convert waste gases such as carbon dioxide into useful fuels. She is awarded the Eos Pipet, an award for most promising scientist, for her research.