(662b) Microwave Catalytic Reactor for Process Intensified Conversion of Stranded Energy Resources

This presentation introduces the applications of microwave catalysis for the conversion of stranded energy resources (shale gas and renewable power) into liquid transportable chemicals such as aromatics and ammonia. Microwave irradiation has shown a profound impact on catalyzed and uncatalyzed gas-solid reactions. In particular, it has been demonstrated that microwave-specific effects can manifest themselves through the enhancement of reaction rates, changes in the position of equilibria and the distribution of products.

Microwave irradiation provides a means for precise and site-selective activating of heterogeneous catalysts for organic reactions or materials processing. Microwave energy can be delivered directly to the reacting species and/or adsorbing catalyst where it influences localized electronic properties of the materials and reaction intermediates at interface [1-3]. Microwave-enhanced thermocatalytic reactions offer potential benefits to the process industry by providing: 1) precise and selective heating, applying heat directly to the catalyst for better energy efficiency and improved selectivity 2) much more rapid heating than conventional means, and 3) reduced process footprint, enabling process intensification. This paper presents thermal and non-thermal effects of microwave catalysis on two reactions: (1) simultaneous conversion of CH₄/N₂ to form ammonia and ethylene under ambient pressure, and (2) process intensified natural gas dehydroaromatization.

This novel process integrates system elements of electromagnetic sensitive catalysts and microwave reactor design to convert methane and/or nitrogen to value added products. The results indicate that stable molecules such as CH₄ and N₂ can be activated by microwave irradiation at appropriate reaction conditions to produce NH₃, aromatics and C₂ olefins. Microwave allows to achieve the selectivity and yield that cannot be obtained from conventional thermally heated reactor.

References

• Bai, S. Tiwari, B. Robinson, C. Killmer, L. Li, J. Hu, Catalysis Science & Technology, 8, 6302-6305,2018
• Bai, B. Robinson, C. Killmer, Y. Wang, L Li, J. Hu, Fuel, 243, 485-492, 2019
• Hu, US Patent Application :16/355,501, PCT/US19/22586, March 2019