Bengaluru-based startup has a recipe to make fuel from air

Breathe Applied Sciences has developed technology to convert carbon dioxide to methanol and other chemicals.

Bengaluru-based startup Breathe Applied Sciences has received the National Award 2021 from the Technology Development Board for developing a commercial solution for the conversion of carbon dioxide to chemicals and fuels.

Incubated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, the startup developed efficient catalysts and methodologies to convert carbon dioxide to methanol and other chemicals.

"It has led to improvisation of process engineering to enhance the production of chemicals and fuels from anthropogenic carbon dioxide generated from various sources including coal and natural gas power generation sectors, steel industry, cement industry, and chemical industries and integrating multiple components involved in the CCUS (Carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration), to develop a complete solution for the environmental issues due to global warming," the Union Science and Technology Ministry said.

Prof Sebastian C Peter and his group from the New Chemistry Unit at JNCASR had conducted research, who is also a co-founder and director of Breathe Applied Sciences. DST Nano Mission funded the startup.

As per the ministry, the startup has signed an agreement with JNCASR, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, to transfer technology based on lab-scale research on reducing Co2 to methanol and other useful chemicals and fuels. 

"In the pilot mode, the current capacity of Co2 conversion is 300 kg per day, which can be scaled up to several 100 tons on an industrial scale. It will take some time to reach the level of industrial production. A few industry sectors are in discussion with Breathe for the potential use of our developed technology soon," Prof Sebastian C Peter said.