A new approach to the production of the industry-critical propylene contributes to the carbon neutralization of petrochemistry.
(Marek Piwnicki/Unsplash. Edited by Daniel Schenz).
Hokkaido University researchers find a new way of producing the industrially important propylene that is more energy efficient than existing approaches—and in the process turns carbon dioxide into another usable resource. Their pioneering catalyst design thus contributes to the carbon neutralization of the petrochemical industry.
Propylene is a gas used to make a large variety of packaging and containers and is considered to be the second most important starting product in petrochemical engineering. However, its production from propane is currently very energy-intensive. In addition, the process accumulates unwanted side products that need to be purged by burning regularly. It is therefore very desirable to find another approach to the production of this valuable molecule that is more efficient, produces fewer side products, and still uses materials that are stable at high temperatures.
Hokkaido University material chemist Shinya Furukawa and his team recently developed a new catalyst—a substance that acts as a guide to chemical reactions and as such can open up otherwise inaccessible reaction pathways—that allows them to use carbon dioxide to turn propane into propylene instead of the more commonly used oxygen. In their Nature Communications paper they not only demonstrated that the catalyst was highly efficient, very selective and stable under high temperatures, its use also had the side effect of turning carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, which is a useful resource for the production of many bulk chemicals.
The researchers achieved this feat by building on their previous studies on catalyst design, but this time chose a unique new way: Using an alloy of platinum and tin on a ceria support as the base, they replaced a fraction of these atoms with the metals cobalt, nickel, indium and gallium. Each of these elements was chosen for a specific purpose: Platinum-tin alloys had already been known as good catalysts for the reaction, but including nickel and cobalt increased both the catalyst’s ability to activate carbon dioxide and its selectivity to the desired reaction. On the other hand, inserting indium and gallium was beneficial for the catalyst’s temperature stability. Finally, the ceria support made carbon dioxide capture and catalyst purging easier. The research team also confirmed that the catalyst can be regenerated and reused without a loss of performance.
Furukawa explains the significance of this result thus: “This work not only demonstrates the outstanding performance of our catalyst, but it also opens up a new window of catalyst design concepts based on our technique. The new catalyst outperforms our previous Pt-Co-In catalyst by a large margin. These insights will contribute to the carbon neutralization of the industrial production of small petrochemicals.”
Original Article: Carbon-neutralizing propylene production catalyzes change in petrochemical engineering
More from: Hokkaido University
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Carbon neutralization
- Hyundai Motor ends Indonesia aluminium deal after climate campaign by K-pop fans
At the time of the signing, Hyundai said it expected to procure aluminum from Adaro that meets the automaker’s carbon neutralization policy amid growing demand for aluminum among global automakers.
- MOL adopts onboard CO2 capture technology
MITSUI O.S.K. Lines (MOL) equiped its Nexus Victoria tanker (75,000 DWT) with the Filtree System, an onboard CO2 capture and SOx-scrubbing technology by Dutch firm Value Maritime B.V. (VM). This marks ...
- MOL becomes first Japanese operator to commercially install Onboard CO2 Capture System
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced that it has decided to equip its LR1 product tanker Nexus Victoria (75,000 DWT class) with the “Filtree System,” an onboard CO2 capture system with a SOx scrubber (Note 1 ...
- Landmine detection and neutralization: Breaching ain’t easy
It allows remote detection and neutralization— meaning the warfighter would not be at risk. The concept is comprised of three main components. A mortar-based launcher system integrated on a ...
- Researchers realize hydrogen formation by contact electrification of water microdroplets and its regulation
Direct utilization of water as a source of hydrogen atoms and molecules is fundamental to the evolution of the ecosystem and industry. However, liquid water is an unfavorable electron donor for ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Carbon neutralization of the petrochemical industry
- 'Gap' in carbon removal: Countries' plans to remove CO2 not enough
New research suggests that countries' current plans to remove CO2 from the atmosphere will not be enough to comply with the 1.5 C warming limit set out under the Paris Agreement.
- Research indicates that carbon dioxide removal plans will not be enough to meet Paris treaty goals
New research indicates a large “emissions gap” between what actions nations have committed to help remove carbon from the atmosphere and what’s required to meet Paris treaty goals.
- Chevron VP: Linking Gulf Coast hydrogen efforts with Bayou Bend CCS ‘makes a lot of sense’
Chevron is involved in major carbon storage and hydrogen projects along the Texas Gulf Coast, but this is just the beginning for those sectors.
- Decarbonizing the Power Industry with Low-Carbon-Intensity Hydrogen
Low-carbon-intensity hydrogen could provide valuable options to solve looming challenges. In order to reach the United Nations’ net zero by 2050 energy goal, real transformative change needs to happen ...
- Developed countries accused of bowing to lobbyists at plastic pollution talks
Representatives of the petrochemical industry said they were committed to a global treaty to cut plastic waste. But they pushed back on reductions in plastic production, an industry worth $712bn ...