A novel catalytic membrane reactor for DME synthesis from renewable - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A novel catalytic membrane reactor for DME synthesis from renewable resources

Naomi Klinghoffer, Gas Technology Institute (GTI)

Miao Yu, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Xinhua Liang, Missouri University of Science and Technology (MS&T)

We are solving the challenge of low conversion and product yield in processes that produce liquid fuels and chemicals from CO2 and H2 with our unique catalyst and reactor design.

Project Vision

• Fed. funding:

$2.3M Length 36 mo.

Our process will enable production of clean burning liquid fuels that are safe and easy to handle from renewable energy, water, and CO2 via a process that is modular and scalable.

Project Impact

H2 CO2 DME

Tech-to-Market strategy

License technology International DME Association members Packaged modular systems

Innovation and Objectives

Innovation

Bifunctional catalyst and membrane reactor shift equilibrium towards product formation Advanced catalyst synthesis techniques for higher product yield Membrane reactor design improves catalyst performance by decreasing deactivation by water Compact, modular design

Task outline, technical objectives

BP1 Advanced catalyst development Advanced membrane development BP2: Catalytic membrane reactor testing to achieve target yield BP3: Prototype scale demonstration at 1 kg/day, 150h stable operation

H2 CO2 H2O H2 DME

1. CO2 + 3H2  CH3OH + H2O 2. 2CH3OH  CH3OCH3 + H2O

Innovation and Objectives

Project history

GTI & USC (RPI) collaborated on 3 DOE-supported membrane process projects related to gas storage and separations (natural gas storage, CO2 capture and O2 production) GTI & MS&T collaborated on catalyst development for CO2 activation

Proposed targets Desirable partnerships

Inorganic membrane fabricator Catalyst manufacturer Modular equipment fabricator

Anticipated challenges

Reactor configuration – consult with MPT; advanced sealing materials Membrane performance at reaction conditions – modify membrane Catalyst coking - modify catalyst; tune water permeance of membrane

Metric State of the Art Proposed Product selectivity 43% (at XCO2 = 15%) 60% (at XCO2 = 15%) Catalyst stability Not reported for this reaction 150 h of stable

• peration

DME Cost 0.11 $/kWh 0.09 $/kWh*

*based on DOE target of $2/kg H2 and air capture of CO2

Preliminary Results

3

Pressure (psig) Permeance (mol・s-1m-2Pa-1) H2O/CO2 Selectivity H2O CO2 1 7.7E-05 6.2E-07 120 2 8.5E-05 9.5E-07 89

NaA Membrane

Testing at 80oC SEM images of membrane Catalyst

• CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 60/30/10)
• Incipient wetness synthesis

Test pressure: 600 psi

5 10 15 20 25 30 200 250 300

Conversion (%) Temperature (oC)

Catalyst Testing

20 40 60 80 100 200 250 300

Selectivity (%) Temperature (oC)

CO Methanol