Experimental unit for the hydrogenation of carbon oxides to hydrocarbons

• Subject Area: Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 570650097

The heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation of CO2 to hydrocarbons is a central building block for the synthesis of sustainable fuels and chemical intermediates. The obtained molecules can gradually substitute fossil raw materials and thus enable the use of existing infrastructure, which ultimately facilitates the energy and raw material transition. In this context, the large-scale equipment applied for will allow the flexible investigation of various scientific questions and strengthen the applicant's experimental capabilities specifically. One scientific focus is on the investigation and simplification of two-stage processes. The focus here is on CO2 conversion to CO and subsequent Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) on the one hand, and on the combination of chain growth via FTS and subsequent product processing by means of cracking or isomerization on the other hand. The implementation of these two-stage processes in a single reactor offers the potential to simplify the overall process chain. However, there are a number of scientific questions relating to the development of bi-functional catalysts as well as operational management and reactor design. The second scientific focus is on the deactivation behavior of catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO/CO2, which is caused by various mechanisms such as oxidation, coking and sintering of the active material. The application-oriented scientific questions deal on the one hand with the quantification of deactivation and reactivation using empirical models based on mechanistic findings. On the other hand, catalysts are to be developed that are more stable and easier to regenerate. Using deactivation/reactivation models, operating strategies are to be developed that improve the life cycle of the catalyst material. The scientific questions require a broad experimental database for the development and parameterization of suitable models, as the interaction of experiment and model is central to the systematic gain of knowledge. The large-scale device should enable the necessary experiments and be able to be used flexibly for various specific research questions relating to the hydrogenation of CO/CO2.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Versuchsanlage zur Hydrierung von Kohlenstoffoxiden zu Kohlenwasserstoffen
• Instrumentation Group: 1110 Reaktionsgefäße für Niederdruck, (Hydrierung, Katalyse, Polymerisation)
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Leader: Professor Dr.-Ing. Robert Güttel