The roles of catalysis and reaction engineering in overcoming the energy and the environment crisis

An overview of the environmental and energy problems is given with emphasis on the challenges and opportunities for the catalysis and reaction engineering community. Important research directions, entailing the hydrogen economy, process intensification, enhanced efficiency, transformation of underutilized energy resources (e.g., natural gas from remote and offshore locations), and biomass conversion with novel processing schemes, are outlined. Recommendations for future research needs are made.

[1]  C. Arean,et al.  Materials for hydrogen storage: current research trends and perspectives. , 2008, Chemical communications.

[2]  L. Schmidt,et al.  Partial oxidation of alcohols to produce hydrogen and chemicals in millisecond-contact time reactors , 2005 .

[3]  David W. Agar,et al.  Multifunktionale Reaktoren für die heterogene Katalyse , 1988 .

[4]  Dionisios G. Vlachos,et al.  Is the water–gas shift reaction on Pt simple?: Computer-aided microkinetic model reduction, lumped rate expression, and rate-determining step , 2005 .

[5]  Davide Fissore,et al.  Forced unsteady-state reactors as efficient devices for integrated processes: Case histories and new perspectives , 2007 .

[6]  Aristides Morillo,et al.  Heat‐Integrated Reactor Concepts for Hydrogen Production by Methane Steam Reforming , 2005 .

[7]  L. F. Brown.  A comparative study of fuels for on-board hydrogen production for fuel-cell-powered automobiles , 2001 .

[8]  Berend Smit,et al.  Understanding molecular simulation: from algorithms to applications , 1996 .

[9]  G. Bunimovich,et al.  Reverse-Flow Operation in Fixed Bed Catalytic Reactors , 1996 .

[10]  G. Huber,et al.  Raney Ni-Sn Catalyst for H2 Production from Biomass-Derived Hydrocarbons , 2003, Science.

[11]  Asterios Gavriilidis,et al.  Catalytic combustion assisted methane steam reforming in a catalytic plate reactor , 2003 .

[12]  L. Schmidt,et al.  Millisecond reforming of solid biomass for sustainable fuels. , 2007, Angewandte Chemie.

[13]  Johnathan E. Holladay,et al.  Metal Chlorides in Ionic Liquid Solvents Convert Sugars to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural , 2007, Science.

[14]  Yuriy Román‐Leshkov,et al.  Production of dimethylfuran for liquid fuels from biomass-derived carbohydrates , 2007, Nature.

[15]  J. Lauterbach,et al.  Rhenium promotion of Ag and Cu-Ag bimetallic catalysts for ethylene epoxidation , 2007 .

[16]  James A. Dumesic,et al.  A review of catalytic issues and process conditions for renewable hydrogen and alkanes by aqueous-phase reforming of oxygenated hydrocarbons over supported metal catalysts , 2005 .

[17]  Paul J. Dauenhauer,et al.  Renewable hydrogen by autothermal steam reforming of volatile carbohydrates , 2006 .

[18]  Yong Wang,et al.  From seconds to milliseconds to microseconds through tailored microchannel reactor design of a steam methane reformer , 2007 .

[19]  D. Vlachos,et al.  Effect of flow configuration on the operation of coupled combustor/reformer microdevices for hydrogen production , 2005 .

[20]  Gregory S. Jackson,et al.  Transient modeling of combined catalytic combustion/CH4 steam reforming , 2003 .

[21]  Dionisios G. Vlachos,et al.  Microreactor Modeling for Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Decomposition on Ruthenium , 2004 .

[22]  Hui Liu,et al.  Modeling of a metal monolith catalytic reactor for methane steam reforming–combustion coupling , 2007 .

[23]  Angeliki A. Lemonidou,et al.  Development of new CaO based sorbent materials for CO2 removal at high temperature , 2008 .

[24]  F. Weinberg,et al.  A burner for mixtures of very low heat content , 1974, Nature.

[25]  Dionisios G. Vlachos,et al.  Downsizing chemical processes for portable hydrogen production , 2005 .

[26]  Robert J. Farrauto,et al.  NEW MATERIAL NEEDS FOR HYDROCARBON FUEL PROCESSING: Generating Hydrogen for , 2003 .

[27]  J. Dumesic,et al.  Renewable hydrogen by aqueous-phase reforming of glucose. , 2004, Chemical communications.

[28]  Muhammad Sahimi,et al.  Study of CO2 Diffusion and Adsorption on Calcined Layered Double Hydroxides: The Effect of Particle Size , 2008 .

[29]  L. Schmidt,et al.  Production of Syngas by Direct Catalytic Oxidation of Methane , 1993, Science.

[30]  Gregor Hoogers,et al.  Fuel Cell Technology Handbook , 2002 .

[31]  J. Rostrup-Nielsen,et al.  Fuels and Energy for the Future: The Role of Catalysis , 2004 .

[32]  J. Fierro,et al.  Hydrogen production reactions from carbon feedstocks: fossil fuels and biomass. , 2007, Chemical reviews.

[33]  J. Dumesic,et al.  Catalytic reforming of oxygenated hydrocarbons for hydrogen with low levels of carbon monoxide. , 2003, Angewandte Chemie.

[34]  Andrei G. Fedorov,et al.  Comparative Assessment of Batch Reactors for Scalable Hydrogen Production , 2008 .

[35]  Daniel A. Hickman,et al.  Steps in CH4 oxidation on Pt and Rh surfaces: High‐temperature reactor simulations , 1993 .

[36]  Dirk Neumann,et al.  Catalytic partial oxidation of methane in a high‐temperature reverse‐flow reactor , 2005 .

[37]  Robert S. Huss,et al.  Green chemical engineering aspects of reactive distillation. , 2003, Environmental science & technology.

[38]  Andrew D. Jones,et al.  Supporting Online Material for: Ethanol Can Contribute To Energy and Environmental Goals , 2006 .

[39]  Emmanuel Tylianakis,et al.  Carbon nanoscrolls: a promising material for hydrogen storage. , 2007, Nano letters.

[40]  James A. Dumesic,et al.  An overview of aqueous-phase catalytic processes for production of hydrogen and alkanes in a biorefinery , 2006 .

[41]  C. Suplee.  What You Need To Know About Energy , 2008 .

[42]  Mildred Dresselhaus,et al.  Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy , 2004 .

[43]  Felix Jiri Weinberg,et al.  Combustion in heat exchangers , 1978, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

[44]  L. Schmidt,et al.  Renewable Hydrogen from Nonvolatile Fuels by Reactive Flash Volatilization , 2006, Science.

[45]  Dionisios G. Vlachos,et al.  Intensification of steam reforming of natural gas: Choosing combustible fuel and reforming catalyst , 2010 .

[46]  G. Huber,et al.  Liquid-phase catalytic processing of biomass-derived oxygenated hydrocarbons to fuels and chemicals. , 2007, Angewandte Chemie.

[47]  Antoine Gaset,et al.  Selective conversion of D-fructose to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde using a water-solvent-ion-exchange resin triphasic system , 1981 .

[48]  Towards an efficient process for small-scale, decentralized conversion of methane to synthesis gas: combined reactor engineering and catalyst synthesis , 2004 .

[49]  G. Froudakis,et al.  SiC nanotubes: A novel material for hydrogen storage. , 2006, Nano letters.

[50]  T. Carlson,et al.  Green gasoline by catalytic fast pyrolysis of solid biomass derived compounds. , 2008, ChemSusChem.

[51]  Jacinto F. Fabiosa,et al.  Use of U.S. Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases Through Emissions from Land-Use Change , 2008, Science.

[52]  W. L. Jorgensen.  Revised TIPS for simulations of liquid water and aqueous solutions , 1982 .

[53]  Andrzej Stankiewicz.  On the Applications of Alternative Energy Forms and Transfer Mechanisms in Microprocessing Systems , 2007 .

[54]  James A. Dumesic,et al.  Production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural by dehydration of biomass-derived mono- and poly-saccharides , 2007 .

[55]  Lanny D. Schmidt,et al.  Steam reforming of methane and water-gas shift in catalytic wall reactors , 2003 .

[56]  Michael R. Thompson,et al.  Basic Research Needs: Catalysis for Energy , 2008 .

[57]  J. Dumesic,et al.  Hydrogen from catalytic reforming of biomass-derived hydrocarbons in liquid water , 2002, Nature.

[58]  William L. Jorgensen,et al.  Development of an All-Atom Force Field for Heterocycles. Properties of Liquid Pyrrole, Furan, Diazoles, and Oxazoles , 1998 .

[59]  A. Varma,et al.  Mechanistic studies of combustion-stimulated hydrogen generation from sodium borohydride , 2007 .

[60]  Muhammad Sahimi,et al.  Experimental studies of a hybrid adsorbent-membrane reactor (HAMR) system for hydrogen production , 2007 .

[61]  James A. Dumesic,et al.  An overview of dehydration, aldol-condensation and hydrogenation processes for production of liquid alkanes from biomass-derived carbohydrates , 2007 .

[62]  D. Vlachos,et al.  A computational fluid dynamics study of propane/air microflame stability in a heat recirculation reactor , 2008 .

[63]  Avelino Corma,et al.  Synergies between bio- and oil refineries for the production of fuels from biomass. , 2007, Angewandte Chemie.

[64]  Yuriy Román-Leshkov,et al.  Phase Modifiers Promote Efficient Production of Hydroxymethylfurfural from Fructose , 2006, Science.

[65]  Charlotte K. Williams,et al.  The Path Forward for Biofuels and Biomaterials , 2006, Science.

[66]  Yong Wang,et al.  Microreactor technology and process intensification , 2005 .

[67]  T. Straatsma,et al.  THE MISSING TERM IN EFFECTIVE PAIR POTENTIALS , 1987 .

[68]  Bryce J. Stokes,et al.  Biomass as Feedstock for A Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply , 2005 .

[69]  Dionisios G. Vlachos,et al.  Millisecond methane steam reforming via process and catalyst intensification , 2008 .

[70]  M. Deluchi,et al.  Hydrogen vehicles: an evaluation of fuel storage, performance, safety, environmental impacts, and cost , 1989 .

[71]  Mathematical simulations of reactors for catalytic conversion of methane to syngas with forced concentration cycling , 2000 .

[72]  Milorad P. Dudukovic,et al.  A bidirectional fixed-bed reactor for coupling of exothermic and endothermic reactions , 1996 .

[73]  Dionisios G. Vlachos.  Microreactor Engineering: Processes, Detailed Design and Modeling , 2009 .

[74]  Aristides Morillo,et al.  Heat-integrated reactor concepts for catalytic reforming and automotive exhaust purification , 2007 .

[75]  B. Sundén,et al.  Analysis of chemical-reaction-coupled mass and heat transport phenomena in a methane reformer duct for PEMFCs , 2007 .