Development of reaction-separation dual-functional membrane reactors for the facile synthesis of sustainable chemicals

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jürgen Caro
• Subject Area: Technical Chemistry ; Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 322911753

Development of reaction separation dual functional membrane reactors for the facile synthesis of sustainable chemicals: In this joint research project, we focus on the development of reaction separation dual-functional membrane reactors for facile synthesis of sustainable chemicals such as DME, DMC, and MeOH by using CO2 as carbon source. Greenhouse gases CO2 will be increasingly sequestrated from several sources, especially from the exhaust gas of electrical power stations, from cement and iron industry. CO2 is an inexpensive, abundant, nontoxic, and renewable resource for synthesis of sustainable chemicals. In particular, CO2 can be used instead of CO as starting carbon chemical for the synthesis of dimethylether (DME), dimethylcarbonate (DMC) or methanol (MeOH): (iv) 2 CO2 + 6 H2 to DME + 3 H2O 50 bar, 200 to 300°C (v) CO2 + 2 MeOH to DMC + H2O 50 bar, 100 to 200°C (vi) CO2 + 3 H2 to MeOH + H2O 50 bar, 100 to 200°C In these reactions, the product water is harmful to the activity of the catalysts. The removal of water is also beneficial for the above reactions to overcome the equilibrium limitation. Reaction separation dual functional membranes can support the synthesis of (i) DME, (ii) DMC, and (iii) MeOH by using CO2 as starting carbon source. Water is a small molecule with 2.6 A critical diameter and can be removed by small-pore hydrophilic membranes. Zeolite SOD (pore size of 2.8 A) and LTA (pore size of 4.0 A) with strong hydrophilicity are promising candidates for the fabrication of selective water-separation membranes. Also metal-organic frameworks (MOF) membranes, such as ZIF-8 (pore size of 3.4 A) and ZIF-90 (pore size of 3.5 A) allow dehydration. While most of the preparation work of the separation membrane will be made in Ningbo, Hannover will focus on the deposition of the catalytic layer. The reaction (i) and (ii) will be tested in Ningbo, reactions (iii) in Hannover. We submit a Working Plan with clear responsibilities and milestones. The exchange of the PhD students between Ningbo and Hannover is organized, as we did in the past. The use of a high-pressure membrane reactor up to 50 bar in separation and catalysis will be a pioneering breakthrough in membrane research and in the processing CO2 to sustainable chemicals.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Partner Organisation: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Aisheng Huang