Enerkem specializes in converting waste materials into biofuels and renewable chemicals using patented gasification technology. This process utilizes waste and biomass residues from municipal, commercial, and industrial sources. The waste is initially sorted to remove recyclable and inert components, then shredded and dried for further processing. In the gasification phase, the prepared waste is fed into a proprietary bubbling fluidized bed gasification vessel, where it reacts with steam and oxygen to break down molecules and produce a mixture called syngas. This syngas, rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide, serves as key building blocks for modern chemical processes. To maximize yields, contaminants in the feedstock are removed through an exclusive syngas cleaning and conditioning procedure, ensuring the highest quality of the end product. This allows precise regulation of the syngas purity and composition, tailored to the desired end product. During this process, CO2 is captured and stored. In the synthesis and product purification phase, hydrogen is added to the syngas to create a balanced mixture, which is then compressed and fed into a reactor. Here, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide combine in different ratios on the surface of a catalyst to produce crude methanol. This methanol is then purified to meet International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association (IMPCA) specifications or can be further converted into chemical or fuel-grade ethanol.
