Chung-Ang University(CAU) has been selected for a new research and development project under the 'C1 Gas Refinery Value-Up Technology Development Project' promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, receiving 7.06 billion won in financial support over 4 years and 6 months, thereby leading efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and create new carbon-neutral industries.
The National Research Foundation recently announced that the project led by Professors Yoon Seong-Ho and Cho Hae-Seong from the Department of Chemistry at the College of Natural Sciences, titled 'Development of Technology for Producing Lactones and Organic Acids through High-Concentration C1 Chemical Species from Off-Gas,' has been selected as the main project of the C1 Value-Up Research Group.
The C1 Gas Refinery Value-Up Technology Development Project is a government-funded initiative promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation, aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and creating new carbon-neutral industries. The project seeks to enhance technologies for producing chemical raw materials and fuels using C1 gases such as CO2 (carbon dioxide), CO (carbon monoxide), and CH4 (methane). It focuses on developing demonstration technologies to convert C1 gases, known to be a major cause of climate change, into useful substances using biological, chemical, and chemical engineering methods.
Professor Yoon Seong-Ho's research team will conduct intensive research on β-lactones. These cyclic ester compounds, known as β-lactones, are important raw materials for eco-friendly materials such as the biodegradable polymer 'Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)' and 'Ethyl 3-hydroxypropionate'. The method of producing β-lactones from C1 gases is gaining significant attention as an environmentally friendly, economical, and sustainable approach that can contribute to carbon emission reduction.
Professor Yoon's team previously conducted related research with 4.15 billion won in support through the flagship 'C1 Gas Refinery Project' under Korea's climate change response initiative over the past nine years. With the selection of this new research and development project, the total government financial support for the research team will reach 11.21 billion won.
Through this project, innovative research outcomes for a sustainable future at our university are expected. The project, led by Professors Yoon Seong-Ho and Cho Hae-Seong, will also involve research teams from Sogang University and Korea University, as well as collaboration with prominent domestic companies in the eco-friendly materials field, such as Lotte Chemical, as research partners.