Flow reactor with microwave-sensitive catalytic bed for ethanol dehydration to ethylene

• Grant number: 17/24238-7
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2018 - September 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering
• Principal researcher: Luiz Alberto Jermolovicius
• Grantee: Luiz Alberto Jermolovicius
• Home Institution: Escola de Engenharia Mauá (EEM). Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia. São Caetano do Sul , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Eduardo Victor dos Santos Pouzada
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/00339-4 - Flow reactor with microwave-sensitive catalytic bed for ethanol dehydration to ethylene, BP.TT

Abstract

This project proposes the development of a flow chemical reactor irradiated by microwaves at the frequency of 2.45 GHz for dehydration of ethanol to ethylene. The work being developed is two-fold: one is in Electrical Engineering, specifically in the area of microwave power applicators, and the other is in Chemical Engineering, specifically in the application of microwaves to chemical reactions. The challenge is to achieve a microwave irradiated reactor that supports a green ethylene (which is produced with ethanol from renewable sources) production process with economic viability at the bench prototype level. This purpose will be achieved starting with the study of the phenomenon of radiation on a catalytic bed inside a cavity designed to reduce/minimize power reflection at the required temperature for the reaction as well as the study of the effect produced by microwaves on ethanol dehydration reaction. The primary product of this project will be the scientific knowledge generated for the design of microwave chemical reactors, and also the knowledge of the effect of this energy on the performance of solid catalysts for dehydration ethanol reaction. The physical product of this project will be a flow reactor to allow execution of a microwave assisted process for ethanol dehydration of ethanol, in competitive conditions compared to conventional processes. An important additional feature will be the advantage of eliminating greenhouse gas generation and avoiding energy waste by not heating the reactor metal structure which exists in conventional reactors. (AU)