Carbon Conversion Research

Our researchers leverage capabilities in integration science; multiscale computational modeling; thermo-, electro-, and bio-catalysis; and comprehensive decision support analyses to valorize waste streams and generate revenue.

Our areas of focus include:

• Integrating CO₂ capture and conversion through process intensification
• Engineering microbial systems to convert CO₂ to value-added products
• Electrocatalytic approaches using electrons as reductants in the production of chemicals and fuels
• Evaluating systems-level trade-offs of carbon management technologies, in partnership with communities and industry, to inform decision-making.

Reactive Carbon Dioxide Capture and Conversion

NLR is developing processes for integrating capture and conversion of CO₂ from the air and point sources. Examples include improving the efficiency of microorganisms to harvest CO₂ from the atmosphere and convert it to chemicals and designing catalysts to produce methanol at high yield from captured CO₂.

These microorganisms can assimilate molecules such as formate, generated by electrocatalytic conversion of CO₂, and are being engineered to convert formic acid to high-value chemicals and fuels. These novel strategies circumvent safety, solubility, and mass-transfer issues associated with gaseous feedstocks.

Electrons to Molecules

Electrons can be used in catalytic processes to generate desired products. NLR's integrative science utilizes multiscale facilities across thermochemical, biological, electrochemical, and hybrid approaches.