AR2016

Department of Chemical Engineering

Annual Report 2015

NEW REACTOR CONCEPTS AND STRUCTURED

SUPPORTS

Emerging reactor technologies such as microstructured

reactors and (catalytic) membrane reactors are being

developed and tested.

Examples of microstructured reactors

(Photo: Thor Nielsen)

PHOTOCATALYSIS

Accelerated environmental pollution on a global scale

has drawn attention to the need for totally new

environmentally

friendly

and

clean

chemical

technologies. The application of photocatalysis to reduce

toxic agents in air and water by developing catalysts that

can utilise clean and abundant solar energy and convert

it into useful chemical energy is a promising challenge.

Photocatalysts that can operate at ambient temperature

without producing harmful by-products are ideal as

environmentally sound catalysts. For such systems to be

considered in large-scale applications, photocatalytic

systems that are able to operate effectively and

efficiently using sunlight must be established. Hydrogen

can be produced by photoinduced reforming of organic

compounds,

including

methane

and

alcohols.

Furthermore, the photoreduction of carbon dioxide into

useful chemicals is a desirable prospect. It is essential to

convert CO

into useful substances that are common

feedstocks for the production of other chemicals (C

-C

alcohols, etc.).

Photocatalytic rea

ctor system.

CONVERSION OF

LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS

TO CHEMICALS A

ND FUELS

The research is

focused on catalytic aspects of

thermochemical c

onversion, such as bio-oil upgrading,

syngas cleaning a

nd composition adjustment, residual

hydrocarbon refo

rming and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

Due to the declinin

g reserves and environmental effects

of fossil resources, a transition to renewable carbon

sources is important. Lignocellulosic biomass, such as

trees, is the most abundant biomass and one of the most

promising renewable carbon sources.

Conversion of biomass into useful chemicals

NATURAL GAS CONVERSION

Natural gas is an abundant hydrocarbon fuel and

chemical feedstock, and utilizing this resource with

minimum environmental impact is a major challenge to

catalysis. The main goal is to study catalytic processes for

conversion of natural gas to chemicals and fuels

including hydrogen. The work includes production of

synthesis

gas,

Fischer-Tropsch

synthesis,

and

dehydrogenation of C

-C

alkanes. The work is carried