(295e) Chemical Engineering Approaches for Catalytic Reduction of CO2 | AIChE

(295e) Chemical Engineering Approaches for Catalytic Reduction of CO2

Authors 

Chen, J. G. - Presenter, University of Delaware
Converting CO2 into value-added chemicals and fuels is one of the most practical routes for reducing CO2 emissions while fossil fuels continue to dominate the energy sector. In the past few years our group has investigated the catalytic reduction of CO2 using a combination of kinetic studies, in situ characterization and density functional theory calculations. In this talk we will present several examples on (1) CO2 hydrogenation by thermocatalysis, (2) CO2 reduction by electrocatalysis, and (3) simultaneous upgrading of CO2 and light alkanes. We will use these examples to highlight the importance of chemical engineering concepts, such as proper mass and energy balance to achieve a net-reduction of CO2, thermodynamic feasibility for tandem reactions and tandem reactors, and scale-up considerations for catalyst improvement. These examples demonstrate the utilization of fundamental chemical engineering principles to guide the selection of reaction conditions and catalyst compositions for efficient CO2 conversion.