COMBINED CAPTURE AND CONVERSION OF CO2 TO METHANOL IN A POST COMBUSTION CAPTURE SOLVENT (iEdison No. 0685901-22-0069)
Herein, we have identified an efficient and selective catalyst for the condensed phase hydrogenation of captured CO2 in the presence of an advanced water-lean post combustion capture solvent, EEMPA. The catalysts commonly used for the gas phase CO2 hydrogenation caused deactivation of the capture solvent via N-methylation. We have developed and screened several heterogenous catalysts for suppressing N-methylation of the capture solvent and identified that metals, particularly noble metals, on reducible metal oxide supports such as CeO2 and TiO2 to be particularly selective for C-N cleavage to produce methanol. The most promising catalyst formulation (Pt/TiO2) was evaluated under continuous flow operation, which produced a single pass CO2 conversion of 29% with 70% selectivity to methanol at 170 degrees C. Further increase in the reaction temperature (to 190 degrees C) resulted in decrease in the methanol selectivity, however with an unprecedented single pass CO2 conversion of 86%. The high single pass conversion achieved here is important as the solvent looping strategy to get higher conversion is not economical. This is the first demonstration of integrated low temperature thermocatalytic capture and conversion of CO2 to methanol in an economically viable post-combustion CO2 capture solvent. The Technoeconomic analysis (TEA) performed on the current state of this integrated technology showed that the methanol production cost is ~$1000/mt using CO2 captured from flue gas from a 550 MW natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plant. This cost is lower than the current renewable methanol cost of ~1600/mt.
The University of Guam and PNNL Collaborate to Generate Clean Energy from the Sea
Harnessing the sea for decarbonized energy is the focus of a new collaboration between PNNL and the University of Guam.
Designing Catalysts with Pendant Amines
To design catalysts for fuel cells and other devices, design their ligands to facilitate the movement of protons, according to Dr. Daniel DuBois and Dr. Morris Bullock at PNNL.
Water Research Earns INCITE Supercomputer Access
The project received an Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment (INCITE) award, a highly competitive U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science program.
A Model Study: Performance and Reliability of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells
A PNNL team developed and used a model framework to understand the performance and structural reliability of a state-of-the-art solid oxide electrolysis cell design.
Marina Appointed to Gen IV International Forum Board
PNNL materials scientist Olga Marina has been appointed to the board of the Gen IV International Forum’s Very-High-Temperature Reactor organization.
CATALYTIC HYDROTHERMAL LIQUEFACTION FOR BIO-OIL PRODUCTION
Embodiments of a method for producing bio-oil include hydrothermal liquefaction of a biomass (e.g., a lignocellulosic biomass) feedstock to provide a process stream comprising crude oil and an aqueous fraction. The process stream is catalytically upgraded by contact with a sulfided-ruthenium catalyst, in the absence of added hydrogen, at a temperature and pressure effective to reduce an oxygen content of the crude oil, reduce a nitrogen content of the crude oil, reduce a total acid number of the crude oil, increase a H:C mole ratio of the crude oil, reduce a density of the crude oil, reduce a moisture content of the crude oil, reduce viscosity of the crude oil, or any combination thereof, thereby producing an upgraded oil and an upgraded aqueous fraction, which are subsequently separated. The catalytic upgrading process may be a plug-flow process and/or may be performed at or near liquefaction conditions.
The Path to Renewable Fuel Just Got Easier
Carbon-neutral waste-to-fuel flow cell process generates its own energy.
Methods and Systems for Acoustically-Assisted Hydroprocessing at Low Pressure
Hydroprocessing can be performed at low pressure using acoustic energy. For example, hydroprocessing a feedstock having one or more hydrocarbon compounds carried in, or mixed with, a transport gas involves flowing the feedstock through a reaction zone in a reactor that has a bulk pressure less than 68 atm and applying acoustic energy through the reaction zone. The hydrocarbon compounds are chemically reacted with a hydrogen source in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the reacting occurs in the reaction zone.
Methods and systems for acoustically-assisted hydroprocessing at low pressure
Hydroprocessing can be performed at low pressure using acoustic energy. For example, hydroprocessing a feedstock having one or more hydrocarbon compounds carried in, or mixed with, a transport gas involves flowing the feedstock through a reaction zone in a reactor that has a bulk pressure less than 68 atm and applying acoustic energy through the reaction zone. The hydrocarbon compounds are chemically reacted with a hydrogen source in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the reacting occurs in the reaction zone.