COMET

When blended with conventional diesel fuels, Oxymethylene ethers (OME) can significantly reduce soot and nitrogen oxide emissions. In collaboration with dutch company ChemComIndustries B.V. and German ASG Analytik AG, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) developed a novel and improved OME synthesis process. The Clean OME Technology (COMET) uses methanol and formaldehyde as feedstocks and, critically, overcomes previous hurdles in water management. This paves the way for a first European OME production plant.