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

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.