Potential applications of metal-organic frameworks

Methanol-to-hydrocarbons: catalytic materials and their behavior

Nature’s photosynthesis uses the sun’s energy with chlorophyll in plants as a catalyst to recycle carbon dioxide and water into new plant life. Only given sufficient geological time can new fossil fuels be formed naturally. In contrast, chemical recycling of carbon dioxide from natural and industrial sources as well as varied human activities or even from the air itself to methanol or dimethyl ether (DME) and their varied products can be achieved via its capture and subsequent reductive hydrogenative conversion. The present Perspective reviews this new approach and our research in the field over the last 15 years. Carbon recycling represents a significant aspect of our proposed Methanol Economy. Any available energy source (alternative energies such as solar, wind, geothermal, and atomic energy) can be used for the production of needed hydrogen and chemical conversion of CO2. Improved new methods for the efficient reductive conversion of CO2 to methanol and/or DME that we have developed include bireformin...

/pdf/chemical-recycling-of-carbon-dioxide-to-methanol-and-8lhsh2jg05.pdf

Chemical recycling of carbon dioxide to methanol and dimethyl ether: from greenhouse gas to renewable, environmentally carbon neutral fuels and synthetic hydrocarbons.

A zinc-based metal-organic framework (MOF) can be transformed reversibly from an open (a) to a dense (b) configuration. The microporous solid is the first example of a MOF that is highly selective in the gas-chromatographic separation of alkanes.

A Microporous Metal–Organic Framework for Gas-Chromatographic Separation of Alkanes†

Nature’s photosynthesis uses the sun’s energy with chlorophyll in plants as a catalyst to recycle carbon dioxide and water into new plant life. Only given sufficient geological time, millions of years, can new fossil fuels be formed naturally. The burning of our diminishing fossil fuel reserves is accompanied by large anthropogenic CO2 release, which is outpacing nature’s CO2 recycling capability, causing significant environmental harm. To supplement the natural carbon cycle, we have proposed and developed a feasible anthropogenic chemical recycling of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is captured by absorption technologies from any natural or industrial source, from human activities, or even from the air itself. It can then be converted by feasible chemical transformations into fuels such as methanol, dimethyl ether, and varied products including synthetic hydrocarbons and even proteins for animal feed, thus supplementing our food chain. This concept of broad scope and framework is the basis of what we call...

Anthropogenic Chemical Carbon Cycle for a Sustainable Future

Relation between zeolite structure and it catalytic activity principal methods of achieving molecular shape selectivity shape selective catalysis applications in petroleum processing applications in aromatics processing applications in alternate fuels and light olefins new opportunities in shape selective catalysis.

Shape Selective Catalysis in Industrial Applications

Utilizing air, rather than oxygen, to convert coal to synthesis gas containing very high proportions of inert nitrogen; subjecting this entire gas, possibly with intermediate cleanup, e.g., sulfur removal, to conversion over a special metal-zeolite catalyst to produce a product comprising C 5 to C 11 normally liquid hydrocarbons, a gas containing C 1 to C 4 hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and large proportions of nitrogen, and an aqueous product comprising water; utilizing the gas product to run electric power generation equipment, such as a direct fired turbine, at base load levels; storing and accumulating the liquid product; and intermittently using the liquid product for electric power generation to meet higher than base loads, including peak load situations.

Conversion of coal to electricity

In the 26 years since the term “shape-selective catalysis” was coined by P. B. Weisz and V. J. Frilette [1] to describe the unique catalytic properties of small pore molecular sieve zeolites, great strides in the use of shape-selective zeolites have been made, both scientifically and technologically. Since then, in addition to small pore zeolites, synthetic medium pore zeolites, such as ZSM-5 [2], ZSM-11 [3], ZSM-22 [4], ZSM-23 [5], ZSM-35 [6], ZSM-38 [7], ZSM-48 [8], etc., have been discovered. The availability of these synthetic medium pore zeolites has expanded the realm of “shape selectivity” beyond the original discovery of selective conversion of straight chain molecules to include certain branched molecules, single-ring aromatics, naphthenes, and nonhydrocarbons with a critical molecular dimension smaller than about 6 A.

Industrial application of shape-selective catalysis

Using the zeolite ZSM-5, new technology has been developed for catalytically oligomerizing light olefins (C3 to C4) to gasoline (C5 to C10) and diesel (C10 to C20) range product. This reaction produces product constrained by both the shape selectivity of the zeolite catalyst and the thermodynamics governing the oligomerization reaction.

Conversion of propylene and butylene over ZSM-5 catalyst

Lubricant basestocks of high viscosity index, typically with V.I. of at least 130 or higher, and low pour point, typically below 5° F., are produced by hydroisomerizing petroleum waxes such as slack wax or de-oiled wax, over zeolite beta and then dewaxing to target pour point. A preferred process employs a solvent dewaxing after the hydroisomerization step to effect a partial dewaxing with the separated waxes being recycled to the hydroisomerization step; dewaxing is then completed catalytically, typically over ZSM-5 or ZSM-23.

William E. Garwood

Papers

Shape Selective Catalysis in Industrial Applications

Conversion of coal to electricity

Industrial application of shape-selective catalysis

Conversion of propylene and butylene over ZSM-5 catalyst

High viscosity index lubricants