Enerkem’s proprietary technology

Before entering the core of Enerkem’s technology, waste undergoes a critical preparation stage. Upon arrival, solid waste is sorted to remove recyclable materials and inert elements. It is then shredded and dried in preparation for conversion in the following steps.

Pre-treated waste is fed into a fluidized-bed gasifier. Using steam and oxygen, the solid material is converted into syngas, composed primarily of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂). The syngas is then directed to a reformer, where a second oxygen injection further increases the temperature, maximizing the conversion of carbon contained in the waste. The reforming stage also includes two waste heat recovery systems: one provides energy for methanol purification, while the other supplies heat to the feedstock dryer.

The syngas is washed with water to remove fine particles. Our proprietary syngas cleaning and conditioning process allows us to precisely control gas purity and composition, enabling the production of a variety of end products.

At this stage, carbon dioxide (CO₂) can also be captured, depending on the specific requirements of each project.

The purified syngas can be used to produce a wide range of circular chemicals and low-carbon fuels.

In most projects, the clean syngas is routed to a catalytic reactor, where it is converted into methanol through an exothermic reaction. Energy is recovered as steam during this stage and can be used to support site operations.

The methanol is then purified through a two-column distillation process to achieve IMPCA (International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association) specification, with a purity exceeding 99.85 wt%. The result is a high-quality product that can be used directly as a fuel or chemical feedstock. Most of the energy required for distillation is supplied by waste heat recovered during the reforming stage.

The finished methanol is stored in tanks before being transported by pipeline, barge or tanker truck.