Catalysts
and Membrane for Selective Methane Oxidative Dimerization--Eltron
Research, Inc., 4600 Nautilus Court South, Boulder, CO
80301-3241; 303-530-0263
Dr.
James H. White, Principal Investigator, eltron@eltronresearch.com
Ms.
Eileen E. Sammells, Business Official, sammells@eltronresearch.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG03-02ER83404
Amount:
$99,998
Ethylene is a widely
used chemical feedstock material, and a more selective and efficient way of
spontaneously converting natural gas into ethylene is needed. This
project will apply novel membrane technology and catalysis to facilitate the
spontaneous oxidative dimerization of methane to ethylene. The approach is based on recognizing that the efficient methane oxidative
dimerization reaction over an extended time is dependent in part upon the
introduction of an appropriate population (or coverage) of oxygen species at the
methane oxidation catalyst/membrane interface. The catalysis will utilize amphoteric materials that provide higher
selectivity than superbase catalysts. In
Phase I, mixed conducting catalytic membrane tubes will be fabricated and their
ability to promote spontaneous and selective methane oxidation dimerization will
be evaluated in reactor hardware. Preferred
membrane components will then be optimized.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits
as described by the awardee: A catalytic membrane
technology for the exclusive and spontaneous conversion of methane to ethylene,
under conditions that circumvent carbon deposition at the reaction site, should
provide significant economic and technical benefits by lowering the cost of this
important chemical.
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