Tandem reactions of CO2 reduction and ethane dehydroaromatization

• Grant number: 22/06909-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 01, 2022
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Agreement: BG E&P Brasil (Shell Group)
• Principal Investigator: Elisabete Moreira Assaf
• Grantee: Heloisa Ruschel Bortolini
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP)
• Associated research grant: 20/15230-5 - Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation - RCG2I, AP.PCPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/00435-1 - Advanced synthesis and characterization of catalysts for ethane valorization, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

The large supply of ethane from shale gas makes the study of its catalytic conversion to products with higher added value quite relevant. Ethane is converted to ethylene through the dehydrogenation reaction, studies show that the addition of CO2 favors the reaction, leading to higher ethane conversions and less catalytic deactivation. The reaction of converting ethane to aromatics is known as dehydroaromatization and is an alternative to cracking naphtha to produce BTX. A direct process that would make it possible to obtain aromatics from ethane is highly desired, and the tandem reactions of CO2 reduction and ethane aromatization may be the key to the development of this technology. The purpose of this project is the development of catalysts for this reaction, testing different catalytic supports and metallic phases. Through the synthesis, characterization and catalytic evaluation of the catalysts, as well as the thermodynamic and kinetic study of the reaction, the objective is to develop a unique process for obtaining aromatics from ethane reducing CO2 simultaneously. (AU)