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Stable catalyst design for the activation of methane to syngas, hydrogen, and chemicals


    Problem Statement

    Methane and light alkanes are species with relatively poor economic interest. Our goal is to activate C–H σ-bond to produce hydrogen, olefins, carbon monoxide, and carbon nanofibers, following different process strategies such as oxidative coupling (for olefins), CO2 dry reforming (for syngas), cracking or catalytic decomposition (for hydrogen-free of COx and sequestrated carbon nanotubes/nanofibers), cracking/co-cracking with CO or methanol. We work on developing, synthesizing, characterizing, and testing innovative catalysts with a twist of reaction engineering concepts, with a focus on multi-scale implications.

    We delve into the mechanistic insights into a series of in-house-synthesized metal-supported heterogeneous catalysts by combining them with dynamic reactors and ab initio calculations. We explore catalysts with extended lifetimes, enhanced activity, selectivity, and heat transfer. These catalysts are based on alloys-intermetallics, high entropy alloys, exsolved perovskites, and SiC, among others.

    We investigate novel reactor designs based on forced-dynamic, operando, and fluidized-bed reactors to amplify kinetic information and improve selectivity.

    CHA2023

    Goals

    • Develop a microkinetic-based modeling framework to analyze the catalyst performance
    • Scale the technical catalyst for its application in demanding exothermic (oxidative coupling of methane using SiC and spray drying) or fluidized-bed (catalytic decomposition of methane) conditions
    • Develop new catalytic concepts based on Ni-alloys (Ni-Fe, -Co, -Zn…)
    • Improve the catalyst structure-function correlations using in-situ, operando, and dynamic techniques and reactors

    Related People

    Abdulrahman Mubarak Alsaiari
    Seba Alareeqi
    Vijay V. Kumar

    Related Publications

    Silicon carbide in catalysis: from inert bed filler to catalytic support and multifunctional material

    by Kulkarni, Velisoju, Tavares, Dikhtiarenko, Gascon, Castaño
    Catal. Rev. Year: 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01614940.2022.2025670

    Abstract

    Silicon carbide (SiC) or carborundum has unparalleled thermal stability and conductivity compared with many other materials. This feature together with its unique photoelectrical properties (tunable band gap: 2.39–3.33 eV), low thermal expansion, high strength, and good chemical and thermal stability makes it an ideal inert solid in catalysis. The evolution of methods for synthesizing SiC has also progressively endowed it with additional features at the multiscale. This review tracks the development of SiC from a secondary to a leading role material in catalysis. First, the intrinsic properties of SiC are discussed and compared with other state-of-the-art catalytic materials. The synthetic methods are systematically reviewed and compared. Then, the applications of SiC in catalysis are assessed, paying particular attention to those that involve C1 chemistry (Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis and the valorization of CO2 and CH4), photocatalysis and biomass conversion. Finally, the potential future applications of SiC are also addressed and discussed.

    Keywords

    CO2 CHA REF HCE