Extraction of Atmospheric CO2 and Conversion to Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel

Advanced energy conversion and storage technology is under intense development to meet the increasing power demand by the military. Consumption of petroleum-based JP-8 fuel for propulsion and for electricity generation on the battlefield places a heavy logistic burden to the Army as evidenced during the recent wars. The Army needs to explore the possibility of developing the capability to produce liquid hydrocarbon fuel from dilute but vastly abundant CO2 and water in the atmosphere anywhere on the globe. Under the program, METSS will conduct an evaluation of methods available for the sequestering of CO2 and water from the atmosphere. METSS will apply a room-temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) based integrated system for converting syngas to high-octane liquid hydrocarbons. This process can then provide the technology needed to design a portable, modular or single unit synfuel reactor that can be easily installed and safely operated with a minimal logistics footprint at developed, remote, and austere locations.