2432928
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase I: Sorbent-enhanced catalysis for robust, high-conversion single pass hydrogenation for renewable natural gas production.
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its potential to revolutionize the wastewater treatment market for renewable natural gas (RNG), valued at approximately $2 billion.
The potential solution focuses on capturing and upgrading biogas from wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs), which produce a consistent mix of approximately 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide (CO2).
By converting CO2 into methane, the output of RNG can be effectively doubled, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This approach provides WWTFs with a cost-effective way to increase revenue through RNG sales and carbon credits, while addressing capital constraints that often hinder facility upgrades due to the cost of separating CO2 from waste streams.
Beyond the wastewater market, this innovation has broader implications for other CO2-laden industrial waste streams and the larger anaerobic digester market, including 8,000 dairy, swine, and poultry farms across the U.S.
Overall, this project not only offers significant commercial potential but also contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases, supporting broader societal and environmental goals.
By aligning with sustainability-focused municipalities, a new standard for renewable energy production and environmental stewardship in the wastewater and agricultural industries can be set.
The intellectual merit of this project centers on advancing the understanding of sorption-enhanced catalytic processes for upgrading waste gases to renewable natural gas (RNG).
The research objectives are fourfold:
1) Map the impact of varying catalyst and sorbent compositions on the sorbent enhanced catalyst (SEC) for the first model system, aiming to identify optimal configurations;
2) Measure the impact of catalyst and sorbent identity on the sorbent-enhanced catalytic effect, particularly focusing on resistance to contaminants, which is crucial for long-term system performance;
3) Elucidate the role of humidity in mediating the synergistic interactions between the catalyst and sorbent, an aspect critical to enhancing the overall efficiency of the process; and
4) Investigate how different heating mechanisms influence the system's performance, aiming to optimize energy efficiency and reaction kinetics.
These research efforts are anticipated to yield significant insights into the catalytic and sorption processes, thereby enabling the development of a highly efficient, scalable technology for converting waste gases into RNG, with broader implications for sustainable energy production and environmental impact reduction.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its potential to revolutionize the wastewater treatment market for renewable natural gas (RNG), valued at approximately $2 billion.
The potential solution focuses on capturing and upgrading biogas from wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs), which produce a consistent mix of approximately 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide (CO2).
By converting CO2 into methane, the output of RNG can be effectively doubled, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This approach provides WWTFs with a cost-effective way to increase revenue through RNG sales and carbon credits, while addressing capital constraints that often hinder facility upgrades due to the cost of separating CO2 from waste streams.
Beyond the wastewater market, this innovation has broader implications for other CO2-laden industrial waste streams and the larger anaerobic digester market, including 8,000 dairy, swine, and poultry farms across the U.S.
Overall, this project not only offers significant commercial potential but also contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases, supporting broader societal and environmental goals.
By aligning with sustainability-focused municipalities, a new standard for renewable energy production and environmental stewardship in the wastewater and agricultural industries can be set.
The intellectual merit of this project centers on advancing the understanding of sorption-enhanced catalytic processes for upgrading waste gases to renewable natural gas (RNG).
The research objectives are fourfold:
1) Map the impact of varying catalyst and sorbent compositions on the sorbent enhanced catalyst (SEC) for the first model system, aiming to identify optimal configurations;
2) Measure the impact of catalyst and sorbent identity on the sorbent-enhanced catalytic effect, particularly focusing on resistance to contaminants, which is crucial for long-term system performance;
3) Elucidate the role of humidity in mediating the synergistic interactions between the catalyst and sorbent, an aspect critical to enhancing the overall efficiency of the process; and
4) Investigate how different heating mechanisms influence the system's performance, aiming to optimize energy efficiency and reaction kinetics.
These research efforts are anticipated to yield significant insights into the catalytic and sorption processes, thereby enabling the development of a highly efficient, scalable technology for converting waste gases into RNG, with broader implications for sustainable energy production and environmental impact reduction.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE I", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23515
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Redwood City,
California
94063-3014
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Circularity Fuels was awarded
Project Grant 2432928
worth $275,000
from National Science Foundation in September 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Redwood City California United States.
The grant
has a duration of 1 year and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: Sorbent-Enhanced Catalysis for Robust, High-Conversion Single Pass Hydrogenation for Renewable Natural Gas Production
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its potential to revolutionize the wastewater treatment market for renewable natural gas (RNG), valued at approximately $2 billion. The potential solution focuses on capturing and upgrading biogas from wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs), which produce a consistent mix of approximately 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide (CO2). By converting CO2 into methane, the output of RNG can be effectively doubled, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This approach provides WWTFs with a cost-effective way to increase revenue through RNG sales and carbon credits, while addressing capital constraints that often hinder facility upgrades due to the cost of separating CO2 from waste streams. Beyond the wastewater market, this innovation has broader implications for other CO2-laden industrial waste streams and the larger anaerobic digester market, including 8,000 dairy, swine, and poultry farms across the U.S. Overall, this project not only offers significant commercial potential but also contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gasses, supporting broader societal and environmental goals. By aligning with sustainability-focused municipalities, a new standard for renewable energy production and environmental stewardship in the wastewater and agricultural industries can be set.
The intellectual merit of this project centers on advancing the understanding of sorption-enhanced catalytic processes for upgrading waste gasses to renewable natural gas (RNG). The research objectives are fourfold: 1) map the impact of varying catalyst and sorbent compositions on the sorbent enhanced catalyst (SEC) for the first model system, aiming to identify optimal configurations; 2) measure the impact of catalyst and sorbent identity on the sorbent-enhanced catalytic effect, particularly focusing on resistance to contaminants, which is crucial for long-term system performance; 3) elucidate the role of humidity in mediating the synergistic interactions between the catalyst and sorbent, an aspect critical to enhancing the overall efficiency of the process; and 4) investigate how different heating mechanisms influence the system's performance, aiming to optimize energy efficiency and reaction kinetics. These research efforts are anticipated to yield significant insights into the catalytic and sorption processes, thereby enabling the development of a highly efficient, scalable technology for converting waste gasses into RNG, with broader implications for sustainable energy production and environmental impact reduction.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Topic Code
EN
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-515
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 9/25/24
Period of Performance
9/15/24
Start Date
8/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$275.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$275.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2432928
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
TCTBBNNV1CG9
Awardee CAGE
9SKC2
Performance District
CA-15
Senators
Dianne Feinstein
Alejandro Padilla
Alejandro Padilla
Modified: 9/25/24