(232d) Creating Value from CO2: The Development of Sorption-Enhanced Catalysts to Promote a Circular Economy

A circular CO₂ economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on society-wide benefits and looking beyond the current take-make-waste industrial model. The development of thermally-robust catalysts and sorbents can help with the development of new processes for full CO₂ utilization. This presentation will start with insights from previous experience as a refinery chemist on the benefits of pursuing a circular economy that can benefit society. Insights from this brief industrial experience will lead to the discussion of the technological aspects for developing sorption-enhanced catalysts, including two examples, Ni/CaO/CaTiO₃ and Ni/Li₂SiO₃ catalysts for the ready capture and conversion of CO₂. The developed catalysts are used within a cyclical CO₂ capture and conversion process to convert CO₂ from simulated flue gas into syngas (CO and H₂) or methane. Typically, the embedded catalyst and sorbent materials deactivate quickly due to thermal fluxes that promotes sintering and carbon deposition. The loss of surface area in both the sorbent and catalyst leads to a decrease in the CO₂ capture capacity and productivity. Our recent studies into the use of Ni/CaO/CaTiO₃ and Ni/Li₂SiO₃ has shown improved thermal-stability that has led to insights on further catalyst/sorbent development to reach industrial practicality. The CO₂ capture and production performances over Ni-doped CaO/CaTiO₃ and Li₂SiO₃ were investigated, and these sorption-enhanced catalysts were analyzed via XRD, XPS, H₂-TPR, CH₄-TPSR, and STEM. Finally, future insights are discussed for catalyst and absorbent oxide material developments.