Objective
THE INVESTIGATION BY UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE IS DEVOTED TO THE SEARCH FOR NOVEL OR IMPROVED CATALYSTS. THE EFFICIENT AND SELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF OXYGENATED CHEMICALS (E.G. METHANOL, ETHANOL, PROPANOL, ACETIC ACID, ESTERS, ETHERS) DIRECTLY FROM SYNTHESIS GAS (CO AND H2) WAS INVESTIGATED. IN THIS PROJECT, THE PREPARATION OF METHANOL HOMOLOGUES (E.G. ETHANOL, PROPANOLS, BUTANOLS) IS A PARTICULARLY ATTRACTIVE CHALLENGE BECAUSE THESE ALCOHOLS WOULD BE INTERESTING FUELS FOR CARS BUT COULD ALSO BE EASILY CONVERTED TO VALUABLE OLEFINS FOR THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY (ETHYLENE, PROPYLENE, BUTENE); SUCH AN ACHIEVEMENT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT IN RELATION TO THE PROBLEM OF THE REPLACEMENT OF PETROLEUM BY COAL.
SEVERAL PATENTS REPORT ON THE PREPARATION OF ETHANOL FROM SYNTHESIS GAS WITH REASONABLE SELECTIVITIES, BUT RELATIVELY LARGE AMOUNTS OF VERY EXPENSIVE CATALYSTS (RHODIUM) ARE REQUIRED IN THESE PROCESSES. THE USE OF LESS EXPENSIVE METALS SEEMS THEREFORE TO BE A PREREQUISITE FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION UNLESS THE LIFE AND EFFICIENCY OF RHODIUM BASED SYSTEMS COULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED. A MORE IMPORTANT DRAWBACK OF THE EXISTING PROCESSES IS THE LACK OF SELECTIVITY (THE FORMATION OF OTHER UNDESIRED HYDROCARBONS).
THE EXPLORATORY WORK HAS LED TO THE SELECTION OF ONE NOVEL CATALYTIC SYSTEM (CO REDUCED SPECIES) WHICH IS LIKELY TO LEAD TO NOTICEABLE AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL PRODUCTS (5 - 16 %) RELATIVE TO HYDROCARBONS. THIS IS A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT COMPARED TO PREVIOUSLY USED CATALYSTS WHICH GENERALLY GAVE ONLY TRACES OF THESE PRODUCTS. THE PRESSURE LEVELS, THE TEMPERATURE AND THE NATURE OF THE SUPPORT CAN STRONGLY INFLUENCE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRODUCT. LOW PRESSURE (1 BAR) LEADS TO OLEFINS WHILE HIGH PRESSURE (150 BAR) GIVES SMALL AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOLS. MOREOVER, THE CATALYST WAS READILY DEACTIVATED. THEREFORE, THE PRESENT RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE ALCOHOLS PRODUCTION SEEMED TO BE LIMITED TO FEW CATALYTIC CYCLES AND THE STABILISATION OF THE CATALYST CENTRES COULD NOT YET BEEN REALISED. THE CO CATALYTIC SYSTEM INVESTIGATED HAS BEEN IMPROVED FURTHER BY USING BIMETALLIC CATALYTIC SYSTEMS. THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO USE DECREASED AMOUNTS OF THE SELECTIVE (BUT EXPENSIVE) RH CATALYST WHILE PRESERVING CATALYTIC ACTIVITY. SOME OF THESE CATALYTIC SYSTEMS (A PATENT IS IN PROGRESS) PRODUCED LARGE AMOUNTS (50 % OR MORE) OF ALCOHOL MIXTURES (C1 TO C3), ETHANOL AND PROPANOL BEING IN SOME CASES THE MAIN PRODUCTS OF THE MIXTURES. SUCH MIXTURES COULD BE USED AS ADDITIVES TO GASOLINE GIVING SATISFACTORY MOTOR PERFORMANCE AND PROVIDING A GASOLINE ECONOMY WHICH WOULD CORRESPOND TO THE ADDED AMOUNT OF ALCOHOLS (I.E. ABOUT 10 %). FURTHERMORE, THE SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER PRESENT IN THE ALCOHOL MIXTURES WOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THEIR UTILISATION.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Coordinator
4000 LIEGE
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.