The University of Sheffield, Chemical & Process Engineering - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The University of Sheffield, Chemical & Process Engineering Professor Peter Styring

Key current research and aims

• 1. Monomers and polymers (neutral and ionic) for CO2 capture.
• 2. Catalysts for CO2 conversion to value added chemicals.
• 3. Structure-Activity Relationships for materials for carbon capture.

What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale

• 1. Laboratory scale now moving to continuous flow small pilot plant.
• 2. Initial positive studies on supported catalysts. New studies in fuel synthesis.
• 3. Thesis in molecular simulation of CO2-solvent interactions and activation.

Key problems to be overcome Identifying materials compatible with industrial and economic needs. How could industrial links benefit your research?

• 1. Profit from Waste.
• 2. Using CCU to offset costs of capture.
• 3. Access to a wide network of expertise in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at

Sheffield.

The University of Sheffield, Chemical & Process Engineering Dr Alan Dunbar

Key current research and aims

• 1. Characterisation of nano- and micro-structured materials
• 2. Optimisation of materials for use in CO2 / H20 electrolysis cells
• 3. Identification of failure / degradation mechanisms within the cell structures

What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale

• 1. Laboratory scale – early stages
• 2. Progression to pilot scale is dependant upon results at the lab scale

Key problems to be overcome Identifying materials compatible with industrial and economic needs. How could industrial links benefit your research?

• 1. Profit from Waste.
• 2. Using CCU to offset costs of capture.
• 3. Access to a wide network of expertise in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at

Sheffield.

The University of Sheffield, Chemical & Biological Engineering

• Dr. Raman Vaidyanathan

Key current research and aims

• 1. Biological routes to conversion of CO2 to value added chemicals.
• 2. Algal metabolism and its manipulation for capturing and converting CO2 to energy

precursors and high value products.

• 3. Metabolomics toolset to characterise algal metabolism.
• 4. Algal bioprocesses.

What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale

• 1. Laboratory characterisations – 3 PhD projects.
• 2. Lab scale processes.

Key problems to be overcome Identifying algal products and processes that will have industrial and economic needs and relevance. How could industrial links benefit your research?

• 1. Defining processes and products of relevance to characterise.
• 2. Enable relevant research in developing biological routes to CCU.

The University of Sheffield, Materials Science & Engineering Professor Derek Sinclair

Key current research and aims 1. Structure-composition-property relationship in functional oxides, with particular emphasis

• n (polar) dielectric materials (piezo-, pyro- ferro-electrics), solid electrolytes (cation and

anion conductors) and mixed conductors for a wide variety of applications. 2. Fabrication (bulk processing and tape casting of ceramics) and testing of proto-type device based on materials developed in our Labs. Devices include; passive electronic components such as multi-layer capacitors and actuators, microwave dielectric resonators/antennas/filters; sensors; electrochemical cells, eg fuel cells, batteries.; thermoelectric generators. What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale 1. Generally at Laboratory scale, i.e. materials discovery and optimisation. 2. We do perform KTP projects and sponsored Industrial work on specific commercial products (eg. trouble shooting or developing new materials/devices). Key problems to be overcome 1. Finding new materials with better properties and lower cost compared to existing materials. 2. Interfacial phenomena (characterisation/theory) between metal/oxide contacts in devices. How could industrial links benefit your research? 1. Access to a wide network of expertise in Materials Science and Engineering at Sheffield. 2. New applications for materials.

Bangor University, Biocomposites Centre Prof Ray Marriott

Key current research and aims Use of liquid and supercritical CO2 to replace traditional solvents used for extraction and fractionation of materials and as a medium for catalysis, particularly biocatalysis. What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale Laboratory scale (10ml, 100ml and 1000ml) and also 2 x 16 litre pilot plant Key problems to be overcome Move from batch to continuous process How could industrial links benefit your research? Demonstration of greater range of applications with full economic costing of processes.

Newcastle University Research Centre in Catalysis and Intensified Processing Professor Michael North

Key current research and aims Synthesis of chemicals from carbon dioxide with a particular focus on cyclic carbonates What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale Spin out company established, need to do 1-2 years applied research leading up to pilot plant design and operation. Key problems to be overcome Reactor design, catalyst lifetime How could industrial links benefit your research? Engineering expertise, onsite testing, access to real flue gas

Imperial College London, Chemistry Department Dr Paul D. Lickiss,

Key current research and aims Capture and storage of carbon dioxide using porous solids What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale Basic research. Key problems to be overcome Testing of new materials still to be done. Scale-up may be difficult. How could industrial links benefit your research? Testing of carbon dioxide capture with new materials is needed. Scale up of materials will be needed.

Imperial College London, Department of Chemistry, Joshua Edel & Alexei Kornyshev

Key current research and aims Development of novel ultra-sensitive analytical sensors for the detection trace airborn analytes and polutants. What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale Currently performing lab trials – approximately 12 months to pilot. Key problems to be overcome Downsizing detection platform for in field use while keeping same sensitivity How could industrial links benefit your research?

• nsite testing, access to real flue gas, prototype development.

University of Birmingham, Prof Joe Wood University of Nottingham, Dr Trevor Drage

Key current research and aims Step Change Adsorbents and Processes for CO2 Capture. This project seeks to enable a step change in the development of adsorbent technology for CO2 capture. This will be achieved by using a multidisciplinary approach, combining both Chemistry (synthesis, physical chemistry and modelling) and Chemical Engineering. It is the aim of the collaboration to lead to technological advances that will ultimately result in a dramatic acceleration in the development of the viable alternative physical and chemical adsorption systems. What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale 3 years out of 4. Key problems to be overcome Materials have been developed but key issue is now on process design. How could industrial links benefit your research? The project is 40 % funded by E.ON so they would have first call on the research findings.

University of Birmingham, Professor Joe Wood. University of Nottingham, Professor Colin Snape

Key current research and aims

The Next Generation of Activated Carbon Adsorbents for the Pre-Combustion Capture of CO2 The overall aim of the project is to understand the behaviour of resin-derived ACs that can effectively capture high levels of CO2 in IGCC and to develop models to understand their overall impact on improving the flexibility and operability of IGCC processes.

What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale 18 months Key problems to be overcome Modelling pre-combustion capture plants using gProms software. How could industrial links benefit your research? We have links with companies such as Doosan Babcock. Further links could help with exploitation of project results.

University of Hull, Engineering/Chemistry Prof Stephanie Haywood, Dr Sergey Rybchenko/Dr Jay Wadhawan

Key current research and aims Production of methanol and other feedstocks from waste industry gas and CCS streams using photocatalysis at III-V electrodes plus co-catalysts What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale Laboratory research, 5 years Key problems to be overcome Rate of production below industrially useful levels How could industrial links benefit your research? Facilities for scale up, onsite testing, information regarding purity of CO2 stream, product purity requirements etc

University of Hull Dept Geography, Environment & Earth Sciences/ CEMS

• Dr. Mike Rogerson, Dr. Will Mayes

Key current research and aims Biomediated enhancement of the carbon sink to calcite in highly and moderately alkaline freshwater settings What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale Proof of concept in laboratory, pilot scale may be within 1 year. Key problems to be overcome Quantification of rate, amount and limits to calcite precipitation in different settings. How could industrial links benefit your research? Site for pilot study of enhanced carbon flux into hyperalkaline leachate. Realistic boundary conditions for experiments concerning moderately alkaline settings.

University of York, Chemistry, Robin Perutz

Key current research and aims Catalytic conversion of CO2 to CO with transition metal photocatalysts What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale Lab scale, no plans for pilot scale Key problems to be overcome Improving turnover and turnover frequency, making system that does not require sacrificial reducing agent How could industrial links benefit your research? Provide access to larger scale photochemical equipment and knowhow on photocatalysis?

Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Prof Graham J. Hutchings Key current research and aims in situ reaction of CO2 with hydrocarbons and alcohols to form cyclic carbonates What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale First year of a fundamental 3 year study funded by the Leverhulme Trust Key problems to be overcome Catalyst design How could industrial links benefit your research? Once suitable systems identified discussions on scale up etc

University of Strathclyde, Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, Professor Shanwen Tao

Key current research and aims Several research activities at Strathclyde are closely related to CO2 chemistry. Strathclyde is working on next generation molten carbonate fuel cells which can used for combination of CO2 separation and efficient power generation. We also work on CO2 separation through dense membranes or solvent absorption technology. Primary results indicate pure CO2 can be separated from gas mixture through dense membrane with high permeation rates (~ 3ml min-1 cm-2). What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale It is still at lab scale. Key problems to be overcome The effects of impurities in CO2 stream could be challenges and relevant experiments are on-going. How could industrial links benefit your research? Industrial links will definitely benefits the research and application of our technology including facilities for scale up, onsite testing, access to real flue gas.

University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry, Jason B Love (sponsored by ScottishPower Academic Alliance)

Key current research and aims Development of molecular electrocatalysts for the transformation of carbon dioxide to more valuable chemicals such as oxalic and formic acid What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale PhD blue sky, not ready for pilot Key problems to be overcome Synthesis of transition metal compounds that can act as electrocatalysts and understanding their redox chemistry with carbon dioxide How could industrial links benefit your research? Provide funding and scale up input for device manufacture, placement activities (although IP issues will need to be overcome)

Edinburgh, EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Jason B Love ; Prof. Paul Kamer St. Andrews

Key current research and aims To develop new homogeneous catalysts for the conversion of carbon dioxide into chemicals and materials. This is a multifaceted team that will look at a variety of problems related to catalytic CO2 chemistry, including electrochemical reduction, co-polymerisation catalysis, and fine chemical production. What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale Postdoctoral blue sky, laboratory scale. If successful then would expect at least a year prior to pilot scale Key problems to be overcome Project to begin 01 October 2012 How could industrial links benefit your research? Industry could provide defined targets, scale-up input, collaborative industrial placement activities

University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry,

• Dr. John Varcoe

Key current research and aims Speculative investigations into the property of polymer electrolytes that conduct carbonate anions. The application of said carbonate conducting polymer electrolytes in low temperature (room temperature – 90 degC) electrochemical devices that involve CO2

• reactions. An example system will be a reactor that breaths CO2 and O2 (flue gas?)

mixtures at one electrode and reacts methane to methanol at the other electrode with low applied potentials. This is all funded under Varcoe’s EPSRC Fellowship and is part of a substantive collaboration with Prof. Mustain’s group at the University of Connecticut (USA). What stage is your research at? If at lab scale, how long before pilot scale Very early stage. Initial data on carbonate conductive properties available. Electrochemical device test rigs and rotating disk electrode cells being developed and established. Key problems to be overcome Many unknowns and only a 1 UK and 1 USA group that are looking at such systems. Probably 2 – 3 years before a full idea of viability is known. How could industrial links benefit your research? Very much at the fundamental level. Air Fuel Synthesis are keeping a watching brief.