The shift in the view of CO2 away from a disruptive by-product of our industrialized society that contributes to climate change and towards a valuable material as a source of carbon in a sustainable economic system is reflected worldwide in a large number of research projects and technology directions under consideration. Of particular relevance is the development of processes for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), as the extensive electrification of air traffic, in contrast to other forms of mobility, will not be technically feasible in the medium term. In this context, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) and mixed alcohol synthesis (MAS) are particularly promising processes.

While FTS with the use of CO-containing synthesis gas is an industrially implemented process, the direct use of CO2 in it is an innovation. In comparison, MAS is not at a high level of technical development, neither with the use of CO nor CO2. One aim of this project is to carry out and optimize the FTS and MAS with direct use of CO2 on a bench scale. In addition, indirect ways of using CO2 in these processes via an intermediate step of conversion to CO are also to be evaluated. The technologies of the reverse water-gas shift reaction, co-solid oxide electrolysis and the use of CO2 as a gasification agent in gasification are suitable for this.

The technologies mentioned above offer various innovative ways of combining and integrating them into a system network. These are to be examined in the course of the project together with upscaling considerations using the process simulation methodology. The numerous insights gained will now be used for a technical comparison. In order to obtain a more complete picture, a comparison of the economic efficiency of the processes is also to be made, which must be preceded by technoeconomic analyses of the individual processes.