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Towards a feasible and stable thermocatalytic conversion of CO2 to methanol and E-fuels

Problem statement

Unarguably, CO2 is a crucial concern affecting climate change. To cope with or solve the issue, viable valorization strategies are required for efficient usage of CO2, allowing for a circular economy. We aim to convert CO2 into CO, methane, methanol, dimethyl ether, or E-fuels.

Our activities in CO2 conversion are related to (i) analyzing the stability of industrially relevant catalysts under realistic conditions and (ii) developing new catalytic materials based on Cu. In (i), we are developing reactors that augment the kinetic information: (a) in situ and operando spectroscopic reactors that work under (close to) working conditions to study structure-performance relationships, (b) periodic reactors with transient or variable conditions over time or space. In (ii), we work mainly with novel materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

We guide the design of these catalysts based on stability and using density functional theory (DFT) and microkinetic modeling.

Goals

  • Develop advanced structure-function-deactivation relationships of industrially relevant catalysts
  • Analyze the effect of “activity modifiers,” such as sulfur species, aromatics, chlorine, etc., on the catalyst structure and performance
  • Improve the catalyst structure-function correlations using in-situ, operando, and dynamic techniques and reactors
  • Synthesize new catalytic materials with enhanced stability and selectivity
  • Develop a microkinetic-based modeling framework to analyze the catalyst performance
CO2-2023

Related People

Juan David Trueba
Vijay V. Kumar

Related Publications

Elucidating the promoting role of Ca on PdZn/CeO2 catalyst for CO2 valorization to methanol

by Zaman, Ojelade, Alhumade, Mazumder, Mohamed, Castaño
Fuel Year: 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.127927

Abstract

The viability of catalyzed CO2 conversion routes strongly depends on improving the catalytic performance and understanding of the process. Herein, we investigate the effect of Ca loading on PdZn/CeO2 catalysts prepared using the sol–gel chelatization method for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. A remarkable improvement in catalyst performance was revealed with the optimum amount of Ca (0.5 wt%) in synergetic cooperation with the PdZn alloy (main active phase for the CO2 hydrogenation to methanol reaction), compared to the Ca-free counterpart. The following key performance indicators are attained at 230 °C, 20 bar, and 2400 h−1 GHSV for the optimized catalyst: 16 % CO2 conversion, > 93 % methanol selectivity, and ∼ 124 g/kgcat/h methanol space–time yield. The overall catalytic performance observed is attributed to the optimum Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio, Ca2+promotion, surface area, pore volume, and basic sites, as revealed by various characterization techniques. Results shown here indicate that the presence of Ca in the vicinity of the PdZn active enhances basicity, creates oxygen vacancies, and phase may have improved the spill-over ability of H2, consequently favoring CO2activation and methanol formation.

Keywords

CO2 HCE