Preparation of reaction systems for photocatalytic methane-to-methanol selective oxidation

• Grant number: 19/10689-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Cauê Ribeiro de Oliveira
• Grantee: Eduardo Henrique Dias
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/01258-5 - Novel chemical catalytic and photocatalytic processes for the direct conversion of methane and CO2 to products, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/16560-4 - Simultaneous CO2 reduction and CH4 oxidation to fuels in a flow cell using MOx as catalysts, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

Methane recovery strategies are very expensive, requiring large volumes of energy. On the other hand, solar energy is available as driving force for the methane conversion processes to value-added products, such as methanol by photocatalytic oxidation. Semiconducting structures are reported in literature as the most prospective photocatalysts for these reactions, including the photoactivated methane oxidation1, but few are shown as adequate for partial or selective oxidation aiming, for instance, methane to methanol. However, a proper knowledge of photocatalyst role and reaction way may provide tools to control the reaction extension, leading to the production of OH, radicals which can react in specific methane sites to produce methanol2. A second aspect is how to perform the reactions, since the reaction system (liquid or gas-phase, with or without application of electrochemical polarization) may strongly affect the course of this reaction. Therefore, this research plan aims to develop a set of different reactors to test different photocatalysts as freestanding particles or immobilized in supports. CH4 oxidation in water will be primarily tested but also other prospective reactions, such as the CH4 oxidation combined to CO2 or N2 reaction will be preliminary tested. The results will support the LR4 and provide information for future scale-up processes. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GABRIEL K. MACEDO; EDUARDO HENRIQUE DIAS; CAUE RIBEIRO; OSMANDO F. LOPES. Development of Bismuth Oxyhalides for Organic Pollutant Photodegradation and Water Oxidation: Effect of Synthesis Parameter and Halide Species. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 33, n. 8, p. 948-957, 2022-06-15. (18/01258-5, 19/10689-2)

DIAS, EDUARDO H.; DA SILVA, GELSON T. S. T.; DA CRUZ, JEAN C.; RIBEIRO, CAUE. One-Pot Solvothermal Synthesis of Carbon Black-Supported CuO for Catalysis of CO2 Electroreduction. CHEMELECTROCHEM, v. 9, n. 11, p. 7-pg., 2022-06-14. (20/15230-5, 19/10689-2, 14/50279-4, 18/01258-5, 13/07296-2)

MARQUES E SILVA, RICARDO; SOUZA, FERNANDA DE LOURDES; DIAS, EDUARDO; DA SILVA, GELSON TIAGO DOS SANTOS TAVARES; DURAN, FLORYMAR ESCALONA; REGO, ARJUN; HIGGINS, DREW; RIBEIRO, CAUE. The role of TiO2:SnO2 heterojunction for partial oxidation of methane by photoelectrocatalytic process at room temperature. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, v. 968, p. 7-pg., 2023-09-19. (21/13065-0, 22/10255-5, 19/21496-0, 22/05149-1, 18/01258-5, 20/09628-6, 19/10689-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

DIAS, Eduardo Henrique. Development and applicability of copper-based catalysts for CO2 electrochemical reduction. 2024. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT) São Carlos.