A reactive separation process for carbon dioxide capture from flue gas

A system for converting CO2 to methanol, the system comprising:

• a reverse water gas shift (“RWGS”) reactor configured to receive a first CO2 stream and a hydrogen gas stream under a sufficient temperature and a sufficient pressure for an RWGS reaction to proceed, the RWGS reactor outputting an exit stream that includes CO;
• a heat exchanger/condenser in fluid communication with the RWGS reactor configured to remove water from products of the RWGS reaction to form a dried exit stream that includes CO;
• and
• a membrane contactor reactor configured to receive a combination of hydrogen, CO2, and the dried exit stream, the membrane contactor reactor further configured to output a first output stream including methanol dissolved in a sweep liquid and a second output stream including gaseous H2, gaseous CO, gaseous CO2, and gaseous methanol, the membrane contactor reactor including a tubular ceramic membrane having an interior and an exterior, the membrane contactor reactor further including a packed-bed of methanol synthesis (“MeS”) catalysts surrounding the exterior of the tubular ceramic membrane, the tubular ceramic membrane configured to allow flow of the sweep liquid therethrough such that methanol formed in the packed-bed of MeS catalysts is transported through the tubular ceramic membrane and dissolve in the sweep liquid to form the first output stream, wherein the interior of the tubular ceramic membrane defines a permeate-side and the packed-bed of MeS catalysts defines a reject-side.