TDA Research, along with their partners Gas Technology Institute and University of California Irvine, are developing a novel sorbent-based, thermo-catalytic process to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from coal-fired power plants into syngas (carbon monoxide [CO] and hydrogen), which can be used to synthesize synthetic fuels and value-added chemicals. The project will focus on the development and optimization of a mixed metal oxide sorbent to directly reduce CO2 to CO. Initial work will synthesize and screen sorbent formulations for the best CO2-reduction capability and test sorbent activity over multiple absorption / desorption cycles. The team will design and fabricate a prototype sorbent reactor and complete proof-of-concept testing, evaluating CO2 conversion to CO through varying conditions. Additional work includes development of a computational fluid dynamic model of the sorbent reactor system and validation of the model with bench-scale testing. The team will establish the basis for process design and develop Apsen Plus™ models that use the CO2 utilization system integrated with two chemical conversion processes; to diesel fuel via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and to gasoline via a methanol-to-gasoline process. A detailed design, a techno-economic analysis of the process, and a life cycle analysis, will also be completed.