Project description
3D-printed catalytic reactors could boost CO2 capture and conversion into valuable products
Catalytic reactors that can capture CO2 and transform it into valuable products are a promising technology for reducing harmful emissions. While there are many barriers to scaling up the technology, 3D-printed reactors could significantly improve throughput and efficiency. Besides the reactor architecture, the proper catalytic materials are crucial for efficient CO2 capture and utilisation. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the 3DPILcat project will develop a highly efficient, configurable and scalable protocol for preparing tailored and structured catalytic reactors for CO2 capture and utilisation. Poly(ionic liquid)-based block copolymers with CO2-philic moieties will be employed to capture CO2 at near atmospheric pressure and catalyse its conversion into cyclic carbonates from epoxides and olefins.
Objective
CO2 is the most abundant renewable carbon source in nature and considerate the major greenhouse gas. The development of carbon neutral processes plays a major role against climate change. Despite the large number of recent reports related to CO2 activation strategies, a viable solution with potential industrial applicability is lacking due to the harsh conditions or low productivities. Ideally, the CO2 should be captured and activated under mild conditions of pressure and temperature. The combination of optimal mixing and high throughput offered by flow chemistry and the ability of catalytic structured reactors to transform CO2 under mild conditions, offers great potential to overcome these limitations. Thus, 3D printing (3DP) techniques appears as a versatile method to fabricate catalytic flow devices with scaling up potential, due to their simple, flexible and adaptable features. Polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) emerged as an alternative to fabricate 3D multifunctional structures, with unique, synergistic catalytic and adsorbing abilities. The choice of MATERIAL, REACTOR ARCHITECTURE and the NATURE OF THE CATALYSTS plays an essential role in the efficient CO2 capture and utilization (CCU).
3DPILcat will develop an extremely efficient, configurable, green and scalable protocol for the preparation of TAILORED AND STRUCTURED CATALYTIC DEVICES FOR CCU. The catalysts will be based in PIL co-polymers with CO2-philic moieties, which will capture CO2 at near atmospheric pressure and catalyse the conversion into cyclic carbonates from epoxides and olefins. Combined with a designed architecture obtained from 3DP methodology, the device will act as smart flow reactors highly active, selective and recyclable. The whole body of the structured devices will act as both adsorbent and catalytic agents, employing batch and flow conditions. For the 1st time the PIL, 3DP AND REACTOR ENGINEERING combination applied to CCU will be demonstrated, creating an innovative catalytic product.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
12006 Castellon De La Plana
Spain