Solid-State NMR In Situ: Kinetic Study And Stability Of Heterogeneous Catalysts In The Conversion Of CH4 And CO2 Into Acetic Acid

• Grant number: 25/24688-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 06, 2026
• End date: April 05, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Elisabete Moreira Assaf
• Grantee: Gabriel de Freitas Lopes
• Supervisor: Maria Teresa Blasco Lanzuela
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Instituto De Tecnología Química, Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/04540-4 - Catalytic conversion of biogas into chemical compounds, BP.DD

Abstract

The initial doctoral project aims to investigate the direct catalytic conversion of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into acetic acid, and the stage to be carried out abroad involves the use of advanced spectroscopic techniques, particularly in situ solid-state NMR, which will allow real-time monitoring of the formation of intermediate species and the evaluation of catalyst stability under reaction conditions. The motivation for this study lies in the urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by valorizing compounds such as CH4 and CO2, converting them into higher value-added products such as acetic acid, a substance with broad applications in the chemical industry. The literature highlights that the simultaneous activation of CH4 and CO2 is a thermodynamic challenge that requires highly efficient catalytic systems. The initial project proposes the synthesis and characterization of multifunctional heterogeneous catalysts containing Zn, Pd, Ce, La, and Zr oxides, prepared by wet impregnation in Brazil. The in situ solid-state NMR analyses, to be conducted at the Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ) in Spain, will enable the elucidation of reaction mechanisms under real operating conditions. In addition, complementary techniques such as XPS, ICP, and XRF will be employed to fully leverage ITQ infrastructure, contributing to the structural and surface characterization of the materials. The results obtained will support future proposals for experiments at synchrotron facilities and strengthen international collaborations, broadening the scope of the doctoral research and its scientific impact. (AU)