Catalysis and Chemical Engineering Global Conference

Catalysis plays a key role in transforming diverse waste streams directly into renewable energy through waste-to-energy (WtE) conversion technologies. Organic waste, plastics, agricultural residues, and byproducts from industries can be converted into valuable fuels, chemicals, and electricity via catalytic processes. In this session, the catalytic methods driving waste-to-energy conversion technologies for a sustainable path toward a circular economy are discussed.

Catalytic reactions break down wastes for energy conversion, producing alternative fuels, including biofuels, syngas, and hydrogen, which can be applied in power generation, vehicle fuel, and as chemical feedstocks. One example of this process is gasification and pyrolysis of organic wastes, transforming them into syngas—a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide—which can then be used to form synthetic fuels or generate electricity. Catalysts improve these processes by increasing reaction rates and yields at lower temperatures, making waste-to-energy conversion more energy efficient and economical.

A major area within catalytic WtE technology is biomass conversion. This includes residues from agriculture, forestry, and food wastes. Biomass is abundantly available and can be processed through catalytic methods, such as hydrothermal liquefaction and fermentation, into valuable products like bio-oils and bioethanol. This approach establishes numerous sources of clean alternative energy, driving a shift away from conventional, fuel-based sources of energy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. High-value chemicals, such as ethanol and methanol, can also be derived from biomass conversion, which has diverse industrial applications.

Catalysis also plays an important role in the energy conversion of plastic waste. Catalytic cracking through pyrolysis can break down plastics into liquid hydrocarbons, which can then be refined into feedstocks or used directly to produce new plastic products. This approach offers an alternative to landfills, supporting a circular economy by recycling plastics into new products. Catalytic processes can also be adapted for the selective treatment of specific plastic types, further improving efficiency and selectivity in converting plastics to fuel.

Another promising application of catalytic WtE technologies is hydrogen production from waste. Catalytic steam reforming of waste gases and biomass can yield hydrogen, a clean fuel especially useful for fuel cells, where water is the only by-product. The renewable use of waste-derived hydrogen opens a sustainable energy pathway for transportation, power generation, and industries, helping reduce carbon emissions and decreasing dependence on non-renewable resources.