In this episode, Sarah Lamaison, CEO and Co-founder of Dioxycle, discusses their technology to produce sustainable ethylene from recycled carbon emissions. They explore the challenges of decarbonizing ethylene production, the role of ethylene in everyday products, and Dioxycle's goal of cost-competitive production below fossil prices. They also highlight the need for renewable power sources and their vision as a trusted tech provider for chemical manufacturers.
Dioxycle is developing breakthrough technology to convert industrial carbon emissions into ethylene, aiming to revolutionize the production of this widely-used chemical and contribute to decarbonizing the industry.
Conventional ethylene production processes heavily rely on fossil fuel-based steam cracking, but DioxCycle's carbon electrolysis approach offers a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solution to produce ethylene by converting carbon emissions.
Deep dives
DioxCycle: Revolutionizing Ethylene Production from Carbon Emissions
DioxCycle, a startup led by CEO Sarah Lemason, is developing breakthrough technology to convert industrial carbon emissions into ethylene, the most widely used organic chemical in the world. Currently, ethylene production contributes massive amounts of CO2 emissions due to the reliance on fossil resources and high-temperature, emitting processes. DioxCycle aims to decarbonize this process by leveraging carbon electrolysis, which uses captured CO2 emissions, water, and electricity to produce ethylene. The company's innovative approach involves developing high-efficiency catalysts, ultra-cheap membranes, and advanced stack designs. By offering a cost-competitive and sustainable solution, DioxCycle aims to revolutionize the production of ethylene and contribute to decarbonizing the chemical industry.
The Significance of Ethylene in Everyday Products
Ethylene is a crucial chemical, serving as the primary feedstock for various everyday products such as construction materials, plastics, textile fibers, and polyester. However, conventional ethylene production processes heavily rely on fossil fuel-based steam cracking, contributing to significant carbon emissions. As the world looks to decarbonize, there is a growing recognition of the need to find economically viable and sustainable alternatives to produce ethylene. DioxCycle's focus on converting carbon emissions into ethylene through carbon electrolysis aligns with the goal of achieving a low-carbon and environmentally friendly production process.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Ethylene Industry
The ethylene industry faces significant challenges in transitioning to sustainable alternatives. While some companies have explored different approaches such as using bioethanol or hydrogen for production, these methods still have economic constraints and are not yet widely adopted. DioxCycle's breakthrough technology offers a unique solution by addressing the cost efficiency and environmental impact of ethylene production. With plans to deploy an industrial pilot, DioxCycle aims to demonstrate the viability and commercial scalability of their carbon electrolysis technology, providing a more sustainable pathway for the industry to decarbonize.
The Path to a Sustainable Future
DioxCycle's vision extends beyond being a technology provider. By developing an end-to-end system that optimizes energy and capital efficiency, they aim to serve as a trusted partner for chemical manufacturers seeking to reinvent their processes using emissions recycling. The company envisions a future in which its carbon electrolysis technology becomes the industry standard, helping chemical companies transition away from fossil fuel extraction and move towards sustainable production methods. With a focus on providing high-quality and efficient technology, DioxCycle strives to play a key role in accelerating the decarbonization of the chemical industry.
Dioxycle is developing technology to produce sustainable ethylene from recycled carbon emissions. Ethylene is the world's most used organic chemical and it's a precursor to many everyday products including construction materials, plastics, and textile fibers. Indeed, it's a core feedstock for polyester.
Ethylene is also an enormous market at well over $100 billion. We were excited to learn from Sarah about Dioxycle as an example of a startup leveraging electrolysis to convert electricity, water, and carbon emissions into low carbon chemicals. Dioxycle announced a Series A of financing earlier this year with investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital and Gigascale.
In this episode, we cover:
[02:00]: An overview of Dioxycle
[04:37]: Sarah's background in CO2 electrolysis
[06:41]: Ethylene's role in everyday products, including polyester fabrics
[11:02]: Dioxycle's novel carbon electrolysis technology for converting emissions into ethylene
[17:53]: The challenge of decarbonizing ethylene's embedded emissions
[23:14]: Dioxycle's goal of cost-competitive production below fossil prices
[25:24]: Current trends and challenges in sustainable ethylene production
[28:26]: The need for renewable power sources for Dioxycle's electrolysis process
[30:19]: Dioxycle's focus on deploying an industrial pilot and team expansion
[33:49]: Key global centers for ethylene production
[34:36]: Dioxycle's vision as a trusted tech provider in emissions recycling
Episode recorded on Dec 14, 2023 (Published on Jan 25, 2024)
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